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HISTORY 



THK POLITICAL AND MILITARY EVENTS 



THE LATE WAR 



BETWEEN THE 



UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN. 



-v^ 



BY SAMUEL PERKINS, ESft. 



NEW-HAVEN 



PRINTEb AND PUBLISHED BY S. CONVERSE. 
1825. 



District of Connecticut, ss. 

BE IT REMEMBKRED, That on the twenty-ninth day of June, in the 

nrty ninth year of the lndepen!:ei)ce of the United States of America, 

JSAvIUEL fERKlNS, ol the sai'1 District, hatli deposited in this Office 

r,t- title of a Book, the right whereof he claima as Autiior, in the words 

I5g-jg^^^<^ toUowin;!:, to wit — 

A History of I he Political and Military events of the late War be- 
tween the United States and Great Britain. By Samuel Perkins Esq." 

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled " An act for the 
encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Boolis, to the authors 
and proprietors of such copies, during th» times therein mentioned " 

CHARLES A INGKRSOLL Chrk of tht District of Connecticut. 
A true copy of Record, examined by me. 




^' 



CHARLES A. INGERSOLL, Clerk of the District of Connecticut. 



PREFACE. 



Custom has in some measure rendered a pre- 
face a necessary part of a book ; it usually contains 
the author's apology for writing, his exertions, and 
the ditiflculties and embarrassments he has encoun- 
tered in the progress of his work. Waiving these 
topics, the reader is here presented with a concise 
view of the subjects of the following pages, that if he 
feels no interest in them, he may save his time for 
more valuable purposes. The design of the present 
volume is, to state in a clear and concise manner — 

The points of controversy between the United 
States and Great Britain, which induced the late 
war, and the arguments by which each supported 
their respective claims ; 

The great constitutional and national questions to 
which the war gave rise, and which were discussed 
and settled during its continuance ; 

The debates and proceedings of Congr^s, on all 
the important measures connectetl with the war ; 

The circumstances which led to the negotiation 
for peace, and its progress and result : 

And t ) give a faithful detail of all the important 
mihtary and naval operations during the war 

That a well executed work,embrdcing these objects, 
would be interesting to the public, cannot be doubt- 
ed. The claims set up by the two great European 
belligerent powers, to control neutral commerce, 



XI PREFACE 

were unprecedented in their nature, alarming in 
their extent, and destructive in their operation. 
The grounds on which these claims were made and 
enforced, and the manner in which they were 
resisted, are matters of deep interest to the citizens 
of the United States. In the progress of the war, 
several great constitutional questions arose, on a 
correct decision of which the most important inter- 
ests of the union depended ; these were discussed 
with much ingenuity and force of argument, and 
the points adhered to, on both sides, with great 
tenacity. 

The naval, and most of the military operations, 
do high honour to American skill and bravery ; and 
a faithful detail of them ought to be recorded. The 
writer presents this volume to the public, with great 
diffidence, and respectfully solicits the patronage of 
his fellow-citizens : should it prove undeserving 
their favour, he hopes at least, it will induce some 
abler hand to do justice to the subject. 

It is a delicate task to relate facts while the 
principal actors are living ; misrepresentations or 
partial statements may sometimes intervene to the 
prejudice of individuals. If there are any such, 
they are unintentional ; many times they may be 
apprehended when they do not exist ; in those cases 
it is the fault of the agent and not of the writer. 



CONTENTS. 



Chap. I.— Causes of the war. Aggressions on neutral commerce. Colo- 
nial trade. Ruleofl756. Armed neutrality. Treaty of 1794 Impress- 
ment. Blockade of 1806. Orders in council of January 1807, and Novem- 
ber 1807. Berlin and Milan decrees. Embargo. Non-intercourse, and 
nonimportation laws. Attack on the Chesapeake. Erskine's arrange- 
ment; Disavowed. Monroe's and Pinckney's treaty rejected. Decisions 
of British prize courts. Disputes with Jackson. Champagny's letter to 
Armstrong. President's proclamation restoring French intercourse. 
Communications to the British government. - - - - Page 9 

Chap. 11.— First meeting of twelfth congress. Message. Correspond- 
ence between Monroe and Foster. Decisions of the admiralty courts in 
the case of the Fox, and others. Report of the committee of foreign 
relations. Arguments of the minority against the report. John Henry's 
papers. His instructions. His correspondence. Inquiry respecting him 
iu the house of representatives. Message of the 1st of June. Report ol 
committee on foreign relations, recommending war. Declaration of war. 
Address of the minority to their constituents. Army and navy bills. 
Treasury estimates. Plan of finance for the war. Loan for 1812. Page 33 

Chap. HI. — Situation of th: United States at the declaration of the war. 
Population. .Military and naval ,>ower. State of Great Britain. Indian 
population; ("haracter. Tecumseh. British and Indian alhance. Pro- 
ceedings of the several tates, in relation to the war. Louisiana. New- 
York. Ohio. New-Jersey. Connecticut. Report of the committee to 
th.- legislature of • onnecticut. \!assachusetts. Governor Strong's rea- 
sons for not calling out the militia. Opinion of the Judges of the Supreme 
Court on the subject. Resolutions of Maryland on the subject of the war. 
Of Pennsylvania. Report of the secretary at war on the powers of Con- 
gress relative to the militia. Proceedings in Canada on the war. Orders 
for Governor Prevost. Governor Brock's address to the legislature of 
Upper Canada. Address of the legislature of Upper Canada to their con- 
stituents. Prince Rcj-ent's Manifesto. . . _ - Page Bf> 



, 1 CONTENTS. 

Chap.'IV. — Plan of military operations for the campaign of 1812. General 
Hull appointed to the'commanil of the northern army. Rendezvous at 
Urbanna. Their march to the rapids ofthe Miami. A sloop, with Gen. Hull'? 
lyiggage and papers, and the hospital stores, taken at Maiden. Arrival of 
the army at Detroit. Invasion of Canada. General Hull's proclamation. 
Head quarters at Sandwich. Col. M' Arthur's expedition to the Thames. 
Col. Cass proceeds to the river Auxlanards. Main body return to Detroit. 
Capt Brush arrives at the river Raisin with supplies. Major Vanhorn 
detached to escort him. Surprised by an ambuscade and defeated. Col. 
Mill'r detached to the same place. Battle of Maguago. Col. Miller 
returns. Cols. vl'Arthur and Cass detached to the same place ; ordered 
to return. General Brock's address to the Canadians. Arrives with rein- 
forcements at Maiden. Bombards' the fort irom the opposite bank. 
Crosses the river and advances to assault the fort. General Hull capitu- 
lates. American forces and property taken. British forces. Court mar- 
tial ordered. Charges and specifications against Gen. Hull. His defence. 
Sentence of the Court. - Page t7 

Chap. V. — Proceedings of the western states in consequence of Hull's defeat. 
Armj' under General Hanison. Defence effort Harrison General Hop- 
kins's expedition against the Kickapoo town; against the Prophet's town. 
Progress of the army under Gen. Harrison towards the Miami rapids. 
Fort Wayne. Fort Defiance. General Tupper's expedition to the rapids. 
Colonel Campbell's expedition against the Messessiwena towns. Battle at 
the river Raisin. Defeat and capture of General Winchester's army. 
Cruelties ofthe British and Indians. Description ofthe Niagara frontier. 
Proceedings of General Van Rensselaer. Battle of Queenston. Militia 
refuse to cross the river. The American army captured. General 
Smyth's proclamations; attempts to pass into Canada, and fails. Duel 
betwern Generals Smyth and Porter. Proceedings of the army of the 
north. Causes of the failure of the campaign of 1812. - - Page 93 

Chap. VI. — Plan of defence on the sea-board. American frigates sail. 
Cruise of Commodore Rodgers's squadron. Cruise of the Constitution, 
Capture ofthe Guerrierc. Cruise of the Essex Capture of the Alert 
Capture of the Frolic: and of the Wasp and Frolic by the Poictiers. 
Capture ofthe .Macedonian. Arrival ofthe United States and Macedonian. 
The flag of the Macedonian sent to Washington. Second cruise of the 
Constitution. Capture of the Java. Rule for Jistnbuting prize money. 
Success of Privateers. Number and value of British vessels captured in 
1812. East-Florida Frontier. Colonel Newman's expedition. Repeal of 
the orders in council. First proposition of Mr. Russell for an armistice. 
Lo.d Casllereagh's reply. Second proposition and reply. Admiral War- 
ren's proposition for an armistice. Mr. Monroe's reply. . - Page 1 10 



CONTENTSt „ <h 

(Jhap. V[I.— Second session of the twelfth Congress. Report of the com- 
mittee of foreign relations. Law prohibiting the employment of foreign 
seamen. Report of the committee on military aflfairs. Debates on the 
expediency of continuing, and manner of conducting the war. Army bills 
passed. Report of committee on naval affairs. Comparison between 
seventy-fours and frigates. Dry dock recommended. Navy bills passed. 
Treasury, estimates. Report of committee oi ways and means. Revenue 
bills passed. Remission of penalties on goods imported alter the revocation 
of the orders in council. Law authorizing retaliation passed. Page 143 

Chap. VIII.— British plan of the campaign for 1813. American plan. 
Division of the United States into military districts. Arrival of the British 
reinforcements at Bermuda. Proclamations of blockade. Arrival and 
proceedings of the squadron in the Delaware. Arrival of the British 
squadron at Lynnhaven bay. Plundering ou the shores of the Chesapeake. 
Burning of Havre de Grace, plundering and burning of Fredericktown 3 
and Georgetown. Arrival of Admiral Warren, and Sir Sidney deckwith, 
with reinforcements. Norfolk threatened. Attack on Craney Island. 
Capture of Hampton. Plunder and outrages at Hampton. Correspond- 
ence between the American and British generals on the uubject of the out- 
rages. Attempt to destroy the Plantagenet with a torpedo. An attempt; 
on the Ramilies with a torpedo and a fire-ship. Squadron proceed up the 
Potomac and threaten Alexandria and Washington. Proceed up the bay 
and threaten Annapolis and Baltimore. Admiral Cockburn proceeds to 
the south. Blockade of Commodore Decatur's squadron at New-London. 
Naval challenge. Decline. ....-- Page 157 

Chap. IX. — Naval affairs. Cruise of the President. Of the Congress, Of 
the Hornet. Capture of the Peacock. Captain Lawrence appointed to 
the command of the Chesapeake, challenge of the Shannon; accepted. 
Capture of the Chesapeake, Funeral of Lawrence and Ludlow, at Halifax, 
Their -odies removed to New- York. Funeral honours at ;?alem and New- 
York. Cruise and capture of the Argus. Death of Captain Alien. Battle 
between the Enterprise and Boxer, and capture of the latter. Death 
and luneral honours of both commanders. Cruise of the Essex in the 
Atlantic. Her arrival in the Pacific. Capture of a Peruvian corsair. 
Capture of whale ships. Establishment at Madison Island. Essex junior. 
Arrival of British squadron. Blockade of the Essex. Battle between 
her and the British squadron. Capture of the Essex. Return of Captain 
Porter and crew to the United States. Number and value of British prizes 
in 1813. ....... ~ . Page 173 

Chap. X. — Mobile occupied ; annexed to the Mississippi Territory. Span- 
ish authorities removed to Pensacola. Southern Indians. Methods taken 
by the United States to civilize them. Visited by Tecumseh. InstigateA 



via , CONTENTS. 

• 

- to war. Masacre at Fort Mimms. Proceedings in Tennessee and Georgia 
relating to the Creek war. Tennessee forces under General Jackson. 
Battle at Tallushatches. Tallageda. Destruction of the Hillabee towns 
by General White. Proceedings of the Georgia forces under General 
Floyd. Battle at the Autosse Towns. Battle at Camp Defiance. Gen- 
eral Claiborne's expedition against Eccanachaca. Battle. Term of 
service of General Jackson's volunteers expires. Most of them leave him. 
His army recruited. His first expedition to the Great Bend of the Talla- 
poosa. Battle. Pteturns to fort Strother. Battle at Enotachopeo Creek. 
Second expedition to the Great Bend. Battle. End of the Creek war. 
Treaty. Rapid settlement of the country by the whites. - Page 193 

Chap. XI.— Siege of Fort Meigs. Arrival of General Clay to its relief. 
Defeat and capture of Colonel Dudley's detachment. Siege raised. Gen- 

- eral Harrison's measures for the defence of the Lake Erie frontier. 
Galiadt Defence of Fort Stephenson. Address of the ladies of Chillicothe to 
Major Crogan. The reply. Preparations for building a navy on Lake 
Erie. Naval Depot at the town of Erie. Commodore Perry appointed to 
the command ; superintends the building a fleet ; anchors at Put-in-Bay. 
Naval Battle. Complete victory of the Americans. Proctor determmea te 
abandon Maiden. Remonstrance of the Indians. Speech of Tecumseh. 
Harrison prepares to invade Canada; re-occupies Detroit; pursues Proc- 
tor up the Thames. Battle of the Moravian towns. Defeat and capture 
of Proctoi'sarmy. Capture of his baggage and papers. Death of Tecum- 
seh. Dissolution of the Indian confederacy. Effects of the victory. 

Page 217 

Chap. XII. — MontreaL Back passage from Montreal to the upper lakes. 
British naval force on Lake Ontario. American, under Commodore 
Chauncey. Military force destined for a descent ou Montreal. Expe- 
ditious against York. Death of General Pike. Attack on Sackett's Har- 
bour, Capture of Fort George. British retire to Burlington Heights. 
Battle at Stoney Creek. Capture of Generals Chandler and Winder. 
Battle at the Beaver Dams. Capture of Colonel Boerstler's detachment. 
Colonel Scott's expedition to Burlington Heights and York. General 
Wilkinson appointed to the command of the northern army. Arrives at 
Sackett's Harbour. Makes arrangements for a descent on Montreal. 
War department removed to Sackett's Harbour. Troops embark from 
Fori George for Grenadier Island. Sailing of the flotilla from French 
Creek. Descent ou the St. Lawrence. Pursuit of the British. Battle at 
Williamsburgh. General Covington killed. Flotilla arrives at the foot 
of the Long Sault. General Hampton refuses to join the expedition. 
Correspondence between him and General Wilkinson. Expedition aban- 
doned. Army go into winter-quarters at French Mills. General Hamp- 
Ion advances to Chatauguay. Returns to Plattsburgh. Vermont militia 



CONTENTS. ix 

r.-.ilM out hy the war department to guard Plattsburgli. Ordered to 
return by Gorernor Chittenden. Causes of the failure of the expedition. 
Defence of the Sfiagara frontier intrusted to General M'Clure and the 
Xew-York militia. Evacuation of Fort George and burning of Newark. 
Fort Niagara taken. • Massacre. Burning of the Nia-ara frontier. Militia 
retire to Batavia. Governor Prevost's proclamation, - •■ Page 243 

Chap. Xlll.— Presidential election. Inaugural address. Meeting of the 13th 
Congress. Message. Treasury report. Report of committee of ways ami 
means. Direct taxes and internnl duties. Mr. Webster's resolutions on 
the suppression of the French decree of 28th of April, 1811. Report of the 
secretary of slate thereon. Report of the comraittes of foreign relation?. 
Massachusetts' remonstrance against the war. British licenses prohibited. 
Report of the committee on British outrages. Retaliation. British claim 
of natural allegiance. American claim. Proceedings with prisoners. 
Report of the secretary of s.ate on allegiance. Second session of the 13tli 
Congress. Message. Confidential communication, recommending an 
embargo. Report of committee of foreign relations. Embargo laid. 
Message, and report therson, recommending the repeal of the embargo. 
Treasury report. Expenditures for 1813. Estimates for 1814. Bounty 
increased. Steamfrigatebuilt. Loan bill passed. Close of the session. 

Page 273 

.Chap XIV, — State of Europe at the commencement of the year 1814. Its 
effects on the American war. British plan of the campaign of 1814. 
American system of defence. Arrival of the Bordeaux and Mediterranean 
squadron and troops in the Chesapeake. Landing at Benedict. March to 
Washington. Battle of Bladensburgh, Capture and burning of Washing- 
ton, Retreat of the British forces. Capitulation and plunder of Alexan- 
dria. Causes of the disasters in the District of Columbia. - Page 301 

Ch ap. XV. — Admiral Cochrane's letter, threatening to lay waste the coast 
The secretary's reply. The President's proclamation. Baltimore threat- 
ened. Plan of defence. Landing of the British on the Patapsco. Gen- 
eral Ross slain. Battle of the 12th September. British reconnoitre the 
American lines and retreat. Re-embark. Attack on Fort M'Henry. 
Brave defence. British repulsed. Proceed down the Bay. Leave the 
Chesapeake. Burning the shipping at Pettipaug. Attack on Stonington, 
Gallant defence. Capture of Eastport. Castine, and the eastern coast. 
Destruction of the frigate Adams. Plunder of the towns on the coast of 
Massachusetts. ----.-^. Pa^e 333 

Chap, XVI.— Naval operations in 1814. Cruise of the Peacock. Adamsf. 
Wasp. Privateer Geaeral Armstrong. Captureof the President. Cruise 
of the Hornet; of the Constitution. Number and value of captures froni 
the British in 1814. Number and value of ships taken during the war. 
General result of the naval war. . , „ , * Page 353 

1 



;!t CONTENTS. 

Chap. XVII.— General Wilkinson retires from the French Mills. Aflair ol 
La Cole Mill. State of the British and American navy on Lake Ontario 
Attack on Oswego. Burning of Long Point. General Brown takes the 
command on the Niagara frontier. Fort Erie surrenders. Battle of Chip- 
pewa. Death of General Swift. Burning of St. Davids. Battle of 
Niagara. Capture of General Riall. Exchange of General Drummond's 
Aid for the corpse of General Brown's. General Gaines takes the com- 
mand. Assault on Fort Erie. Explosion. Sortie on the British works. 
The seige raised. General Izard arrives with reinforcements and takes the 
command. Retires from Fort Erie. General result of the campaign on 
the Niagara. - . - Page 363. 

Chap. XVIII.— Colonel Crogan's expedition to Lake Huron. Unsuccessful 
attempt on Michillimackinae. Destroys the British post at Nautawesago 
fiver. Returns to Detroit. Capture of two American schooners on Lake 
Huron. Arrival of reinforcements at Quebec. General Izard's army 
leaves Plattsburgh for Niagara. General Prevost advances in force from 
Montreal towards Plattsburgh. Enters Plattsburgh, and encamps on the 
left of the Saranac. Waits the approach of his fleet. Naval battle on 
the 11th of September, on the bay of Plattsburgh. M'Donough's victory. 
Simultaneous attaek on the American lines. British attempt to cross the 
Saranac ; are repulsed. Retreat of the British army from Plattsburgh. 
Amount of the British and American land and naval forces. Losses in 
each army and navy. ..-_..- Page 387 

Chap. XIX. — New-Orleans. Proceedings at Peusacola. Arrival of a 
British naval force at that place. N'choU's address to the Louisianians. 
Negotiations with the Pirates of Barrataria. Commodore Patterson's ex- 
pedition against them. Unsuccessful expedition against Mobile. General 
Jackson enters Pensacola with a military force ; expels the British. 
Armament sails from the West Indies against New-Orleans. Nioholl's em- 
bassy to the Choctaws. General Jackson's arrival ; proclaims martial law. 
Measures of defence. Fort St. Philips garrisoned. Arrival of the British 
armament at ship Island. Capture of the American flotilla on Lake Bergnc, 
Landing of the British at Bayou Bienvenu. Battle of the 23d of Decem- 
ber. Of the 1st of January. Decnive victory of the 8th. Bombardment 
of fort St. Philips. P»,etrcat of the British. Capture of Fort Boyer, 

Page 39C 

Chap. XX — Treatment of American seamen in British service at the com- 
mencement of the war. Colonel Beasley's correspondence with the British 
government on the subject. Those who refuse to serve, treated as prison- 
ers of war, and confined in Dartmoor prison. Description of that place. 
Number of American prisoners confined there. Escape of Lieutenant R. 
<^. Attack upon, and 'laughter ^f the Prisoners on the fith of April, 181.">. 



CONTENTS. XI. 

Report of joint commissioners appointed to examine tlie subject. Meeting 
of the legislature of Massachusetts, October 1814. View of the situation 
of that state. Go\'ernor's message and documents. Report uf committee 
recommending a convention of delegates from the New- England States. 
Protest of the minority against the report. Proceedings of those states on 
the subject. Meeting of the delegates at Hartford. Their powers ex- 
amined. Their journal, proceedings, and report. Proceedings of Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut on the report of the convention. Amendments to 
the constitution recommended. Transmitted to the other states, and 
rejected. -- - Page 422 

Chap. XXI. — Third session of the 13th Congress. Message. Proposition to 
remore the seat of government ; negatived. Mr. Dallas appointed to the 
treasury department. His expose. His propositions for the improvement 
of the finances. His scheme for a national bank. The bill for the establish- 
ment of a bank passed both houses. Disapproved by the President. Re- 
turned and negatived. State of the circulatinji medium, and of public and 
private credit Duties of the secretary at war assigned to Mr. Monroe. 
His expose of the state of the army, and the recruiting service. His plan 
forraisinganarmy for the year 1813. Mr. Giles's bill adopted. Report of 
the secretary of the navy. ---._. Page 458 

Chap. XXII. — Russian mediation proposed to Mr. Adams. Communicated 
to the American government. Accepted Appointment of envoys. Their 
instructions. Mediation rejected by the Prince Regent. British proposi- 
tion for a direct negotiation. Accepted by the United States. Appoint- 
ment of additional envoys. Their instructions. Meeting of the British and 
American envoys at Ghent. British propositions, aad ultimatum. Ameri- 
can propositions. British envoys communicate with their government, and 
receive different instructions. Their ultimatum waived The negotia- 
tions proceed, and terminte in a treaty of peace. Treaty ratified by both 
governments. Proceedings at New-Orleans immediately after the peace. 
Rejoicings throughout the United States. President's message, communi- 
cating the subject to Congress. Peace establishment. Efiects of the war 
in the national character. Page 482 



X'a^e 91, line 16lh of note, for proceed read preside, 

" 116, '« 34, (from top) for carrying read ureins. 

" 121, " 28, " for /our read /atr. 

'« 170, " 14, " forJVease readJVewe. 

♦' 201, " 21, " for advance read absence. 

" 215, " 22, " for companjej read commiss toners 

« 218, " 29, " for gallant re^a galling. 

*« 241, " 23, " for Ball re,id Bull. 

" 242, " 15, " for conducted reAd induced. 

" 276, « 22, « for 9,320 read 9,320,000. 

« 283, " 26, " for or read a*. 

■•' 311, " 22, " for across read access. 

« 338, " 33, " for blank read/anifc. 

" 356, " 31, « for Dobney read Dabney. 

" 365, " 1, " for Lanohue read Lnrabee. 

.6 373, « 29, « for Hendman read Hndman. 

*' 381, »' 32, " for returning read retiring. 

« 399, « 23, '« for mr v^ad .wi7, 

>* 405, « 30, «« for <ojct» read turn. 



HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 



CHAPTER I. 

Causes of the War. — Aggressions on Neutral Commerce. — Colonial 
Trade.— Rule of 1756. — Armed Neutrality.— Treaty of 1794.— Im- 
pressment. — Blockade of 1806. — Orders in Council of January 1807, 
of November 1807. — Berlin and Milan decrees. — Embargo — Non- 
Intercourse,and Non-Importation Laws.— Attack on the Chesapeake. — 
Erskine's Arrangement; Disavowed. — Monroe's andPinckney'sTreaty 
rejected. — Decisions of British Prize Courts. — Disputes with Jack- 
son. — Champagny's letter to Armstrong. — President's Proclamation 
restoring French Intercourse. — Communications to the British Gov- 
ernment. 

J^eutral Rights. For a century past, Great Britain has 
been the predominant naval power, and during a great por- 
tion of the time engaged in contests with other nations. 
Her wars have partaken much of the maritime character. 
As a belhgerent possessing superior naval force, her 
interest has always led her, and her efforts have uniformly 
been exerted, to restrict neutral maritime rights. These, as 
recognised in the code of National Law, are simple and defi- 
nite ; authorizing the neutral to maintain its accustomed 
friendly relations with each belligerent ; and to enjoy an 
unrestrained commerce with both, except in articles contra- 
band of war, enemy's property, and with ports actually ia- 
vested with a competent stationary force. 



JO HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR CuAf. \- 

^ Rule of 1756. In the year 1756, a war commenced 
between Great Britain and France, relating to their colonial 
possessions in America. France being the weaker naval 
power, was unable to maintain her accustomed trade with her 
West India Islands, and opened it to neutrals. To interrupt 
and destroy this intercourse, so beneficial to France and her 
colonies, and so lucrative to neutrals, Great Britain of her 
OAvn authority introduced this new principle of national law : 
*' That no other trade should be allowed to neutrals, with the 
colonies of a belligerent in time of war, than what is allowed 
by the parent state in time of peace." 

^ European nations possessing colonies abroad, unless on 
extraordinary occasions, and for very limited periods, restrict 
their trade entirely to themselves, furnishing the colonies with 
their manufactures and surplus productions, and in return 
taking the produce of the colonies to market : and in this way 
rendering them subservient to the interests of their parent 
state. This new British principle operated as a prohibition of 
all neutral trade with the colonics of the belligerent. Vessels 
engaged in the French colonial trade, were declared to be 
French by adoption, and subject to capture and condemna- 
tion. Unfortunately for the interests of commerce, there was 
no nation at this period able and willing to resist this first 
encroachment upon neutral rights, at the expense of war ; and 
Great Britain continued the practice until the peace of 1763; 
and in all her subsequent wars has claimed the same principle 
under the title of the rule of the war of 1 756 as being part of the 
code of nations. 

Arimd NmtraUty of 1780. In the year 1780 the war of 
the American revolution had extended to France and Spain, 
arid assumed a maritime character. Infringements on neutral 
commerce, to an alarming extent, were the immediate conse« 
cjuence. The rule of the war of 1756 was revived, blockades, 
by proclamation were introduced, and the list of contraband 
ar^/itrarily cnlai'ged. To resist these encroachments, and 



1S12. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 1 1 

protect neutral maritime rights, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, 
and Holland, formed a treaty of alliance, denominated the 
armed neutrality of 1780, by which they pledged themselves 
to support, at the hazard of warjif necessary with either of 
the belligerents, these principles — 

" That it should be lawful for any ships to sail freely 
from one port to another, or along the coast of the powers at 
war. 

"That all merchandise and effects belonging to the subjects 
of the belligerent powers, and shipped in neutral bottoms, 
should be entirely free. 

" That no place should be considered as blockaded, ex- 
cept the assailing power had taken a station so as to expose 
to imminent danger any ship attempting to sail in or out of 
such ports. 

" That no neutral ships should be stopped, without a mate- 
rial and well-grounded cause : and in such cases justice should 
be done them without delay."* 

A powerful naval armament was raised by the parties to 
this treaty, to enforce its principles, by which belligerent en- 
croachments were checked for a time ; but it resulted in Great 
Britain's persevering in her claims, and making Holland a 
party to the war. 

Proclamation of Neulrality 1793. At the commence- 
ment of the European war in 1792, the American government 
determined upon a strict and impartial neutrality, as their only 
safe and honourable course : and in April 1793, the President 
issued a proclamation, declaring that to be the relation in 
which the United States stood towards the European bel- 
ligerents; and enjoining it on all the citizens to refrain from 
any acts"of hostility towards either of the powers of war.t 



♦Treaty of neutrality, 1780. 
t Proclamation of neutrality, 1793. 



12 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1. 

During the first periods of the French revolution, the feehngs 
of the American people were altogether engaged on the side 
of what was then considered the cause of libcrt}^ A senti- 
ment of gratitude towards France for the aid she afforded the 
United States in the war of the revolution, as well as a recol- 
lection of the recent sufferings from the English, created and 
cherished strong predilections in favour of the French. The 
proclamation of neutrality was well adapted to prevent any ill 
effects which might arise from the excess of these feelings. In 
the progress of that war, however, there grew up in France a 
military despotism, alarming in its appearance, teiTible in its 
progress, and threatening universal dominion : the contest 
at length became a struggle on the part of France for univer- 
sal empire ; on the part of the other continental powers, for 
national existence ; and on the part of England, for the domin- 
ion of the ocean. Neutral rights, at first partially respected' 
were in the progress of the contest altogether disregarded. 
At an early period of this war, the course which Great Britain 
had determined to pursue in relation to neutrals began to de- 
velope itself. 

British .Aggressions. On the 8th of June, 1793, an order 
in council issued from the British cabinet, by virtue of which 
all vessels laden wholly or in part with bread-stuffs, bound to 
any port in France, or places occupied by French armies, 
were required to be carried into England, and their cargoes 
either there disposed of, or security given that they should 
be sold only in the ports of a country in amity with Great 
Britain.* 

On the 6th of the following November, claiming to revive 
the rule of the war of 1 75G, another order in council was issued, 
and silendy circulated among- the British cruizers, without 
notice to American merchants, directing " ail vessels laden 



* British provision order of June 1793. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 13 

with goods, the produce of any colony of France, or carry- 
ing provisions or supplies for such colony, to be seized and 
brought in for adjudication."* Some relaxation in the rigour, 
without any alteration in the principle of this order was intro- 
duced by a subsequent one of January 8th, 1794, which con- 
fined its operation to such vessels as were proceeding from, or 
bound directly to, Europe. 

At the time of issuing the order, France had opened the 
ports of her West India colonies to neutral trade. American 
merchants were engaged in it to a great extent ; and their 
property to the amount of many millions was swept from the 
ocean, carried into British ports, and condemned. 

This conduct was attempted to be justified on the part of 
Great Britain, on the ground of expediency ; her arguments 
were, that if the neutral colonial trade were permitted, she 
would be deprived of all substantial good derivable from her 
naval superiority, and the neutral be the only power bene- 
fited : that she was maintaining immense fleets and armies 
to no valuable purpose to herself, if her enemy might enjoy 
his colonial commerce through the medium of neutrals : that 
the neutral could have no right to claim the enjoyment of this 
commerce, which was interdicted to him, by the belligerent 
herself in time of peace. 

American Principles. These principles were resisted on the 
part of the United States, on the ground that the law of 
nations warranted no such pretensions ; that France and 
America were at peace ; that with the exception of contra- 
band of war, and enemy's property, she had a right to trade 
with France and her colonics, in such manner, in such articles, 
and to such an extent, as suited their mutual convenience, 
without the interference of Great Britain. "While the goods 
were American property, sailing on the ocean under the Amer- 



* British order in council of Nov. 6f h. 1793. 



14 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. C^ab. I. 

ican flag, they were not liable to capture, because they might 
be destined to France. All trade, say they, is founded on the 
mutual convenience and wants of the parties ; if this spe- 
cies of trade might be prohibited because France would re- 
ceive a benefit from it, so indeed might all others ; and the 
consequence would be a suspension of trade, or a general state 
of war. That the principles contended for by the United 
States had been recognised by Great Britain in regulating 
the trade of her own colonies ; she having frequently relaxed 
her colonial system in time of war, whenever the good of her 
colonies or her own convenience required it, never admitting 
the principle that a neutral, taking advantage of such relaxa- 
tion, infringed any belligerent rights. Principles so benefi- 
cial to France in the present state of her contest with Great 
Britain, did not fail to obtain the full support of the French 
government. America was required to maintain them at 
every hazard. ■ . 

Ja^'s Treaty. The American Congress was in session 
when the first intelligence of the proceedings of the British 
•cruizers, and prize courts under the orders of the 6th of No- 
vember, 1 793, reached the United States. A very high degree 
of excitement was the immediate consequence. Petitions for 
redress were presented to Congress from all quarters ; and 
retaliatory measures which must have ended in war, were 
strenuously urged. At this period the President nominated a 
special envoy to the court of St. James, to seek redress for 
these grievances, and negotiate a treaty of amity and com- 
merce. This mission, if successful, would remove the cause ; 
if otherwise, every American would unite in defence of their 
rights : it suspended all legislative proceedings of a hostile 
character, and resulted in a treaty making provision for the 
payment of damages for losses sustained under illegal cap- 
tures and condemnations. From this time until the peace of 
Amiens in 1802, the American commerce continued subject to 



TB12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 15 

occasional aggressions from the British marine, though not ih. 
the same systematic manner as before the treaty of 1794. 

Impressment. In the early stages of the European war, 
Great Britain advanced another claim which threatened de- 
sti'uction to the commerce of America, and struck at the foun- 
dation of her independence. The high wages, mild treat- 
ment, and security from danger, enjoyed by sailors on board 
American merchant vessels, afforded strong and irresistible 
inducements for British seamen to seek employment in Amer- 
ican navigation ; while the extended commerce of the United 
States made it equally the interest of the merchant to employ 
them. The British government viewed this desertion of their 
seamen as a fatal blow to power, and as depriving them of 
the means of defence and conquest. 

In time of war, Great Britain claimed a right to the services 
of all her subjects, and insisted that a person born within the 
realm owed to the government a natural and unalienable alle- 
giance, which no length of time, absence from home, or resi- 
dence and naturalization in foreign states, could cancel. That 
at the command of their sovereign, every natural born subject, 
wherever he might be, or whatever engagements he might have 
contracted with other powers was bound to return, and fight 
the battles of his country. 

In accordance with these principles, the Prince Regent issued 
a proclamation forbidding the employment of British sea- 
men in foreign service, and ordering such as were absent, or 
thus employed, to return. The commanding officers of Brit- 
ish armed vessels, were authorized and directed to board 
neutral merchantmen, and compel all British seamen found ou 
board to enter their service. The execution of this order, 
intrusted to men always interested, many times incompetent, 
and often unprincipled, without appeal, or any mode of redress, 
was a continued source of vexation, hazard, and oppression 
to neutral commerce. The sameness of language, and simi- 
larity of manners in British and American seamen, ren* 



le HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. i. 

dered it impossible for the British commander, if disposed, to 
distinguish with accuracy between thera ; and always afforded 
an excuse to the unprincipled, to rob the American merchant- 
vessel of such numbers and description of seamen as suited 
his convenience. 

The manner in which these orders were executed was such 
as to excite the greatest animosity. The vessel was stopped 
in her course on the high seas, boarded by an inferior officer 
with a competent number of attendants ; the crew mustered 
and compared with the roll, and such numbers taken, and de- 
clared to be British seamen, as the boarding officer thought 
proper to select ; these were impressed into the British ser- 
vice without a hearing, or any possibility of redress. Any 
protections or other evidence of American citizenship were 
disregarded. The vessel was then dismissed, often in an in- 
sulting manner, and left to pursue her course, without a com- 
plement of hands, to thehazard,^and often to the utter loss, of 
the voyage. By these practices some thousands of native 
born American citizens were forced into the British navy. 

Amtrican Principles. Principles so contrary to neutral 
rights, followed by practices so injurious to American com- 
merce, and so humiliating to the country, were not to be en- 
dured. The United States maintained that the flag of a 
nation protected all that sailed under it ; that seamen, from 
whatever country they came, who had placed themselves 
under the protection of the American government, and had 
become naturalized agreeably to the provisions of law, and 
were in the lawful pursuit of their business on board American 
ships, which were considered a part of the national domain, 
were entitled to the same protection with their native born 
citizens. Having left their country Avith the consent of its 
government, and connected themselves with a foreign state, 
they became a part of the nation they had adopted, and could 
not be forcibly taken, either on land or on the ocean, the 
common highway of nations, and compelled into the British 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 17 

service. Great Britain herself had fully recognised this prin- 
ciple, by providing in her laws for the naturalization of for- 
eigners, and enacting that foreign seamen serving a short 
period on board her vessels, or marrying in England, become 
naturalized and entitled to the same privileges and protection 
as her natural born subjects. 

But waiving the question of unalienable Jiatural allegiance 
every government is bound so to use and enjoy its own rights 
as not to injure and destroy the rights of others. That for 
one government to seek and forcibly seize its subjects while 
under the special protection, or within the dominions of an- 
other, was a prostration of the sovereignty of the latter. No 
process of national law could be found which would authorize 
the crews of British ships to invade the territory, or board 
the ships of another sovereign in search of their subjects, 
whom they had voluntarily suffered to leave them. Every 
circumstance attending the arrest, search, and impressment, 
was degrading ; it could not be carried into effect without in- 
volving thousands of American citizens, to whom the British 
government could have no pretensions, in undistinguished ruin. 

In all their remonstrances to the British government, the 
United States offered to exclude British seamen from their 
service, which would remove any pretence of necessity for 
the practice. At an early period of the negotiations upon 
this subject, Great Britain indeed consented to rehnquish the 
practice on what she termed the high seas. But the waters 
surrounding the British Islands, and separating them from the 
Continent, from Cape Finisterre on the south, to the north- 
ernmost islands of Scotland, they denominated the narrow 
seas, and claimed to exercise territorial jurisdiction on them ; 
whenever, therefore, American vessels came within those seas, 
as they necessarily must, when bound to the Baltic, to Ham- 
burgh, Holland, or the nothern parts of France, they were 
on this principle within the territorial jurisdiction of the 

3 



1^ HISTORY OF THE LATE WAfS. Cbap 1- 

British government, and subject to search and impressment.* 
A doctrine so subversive of national rights, and at the same 
tin>c so destitute of principle, could not be submitted to by 
any independent power. The peace of Amiens atlbrded a 
short suspension of aggressions upon neutral rights, but with 
the renewal of the war those aggressions were renewed with 
increased violence. By a British order in council of June 
1 803, the principle was claimed, that a neutral vessel on her 
return was liable to capture and condemnation, from the 
circumstance that in her outward voyage she had conveyed 
contraband goods to an enemy's port.t 

Blockade of 1806. By a British ploclamation of the 10th 
of May, 1806, the whole sea-coast bordering on the English 
Channel, from the port of Brest to the mouth of the Elbe, both 
inclusive, embracing a distance of six hundred miles, was 
declared to be in a state of blockade, and neutral vessels pro- 
hibited entering any of the ports on that coast. It was not 
pretended that there was a sutficient naval force before each 
of these ports to invest it, but it was claimed that such was 
the number and situation of the British ships of war in and 
near the channel, that no vessel could enter those ports with 
safety, and on that ground they might lawfully be prohibited. 
A proclamation of blockade notified to the ministers of neutral 
powers was deemed sufficient notice to their vessels, of the 
existence of such blockade : and ships cleared out for ports 
prohibited under the proclamation were deemed lawful prize, 
on any part of the ocean. The principle of public law by 
which neutrals are excluded from belligerent ports, originally 
extended only to places actually besieged, where their admis- 
sion would prolong the siege or prevent a capture ; and it 
w-as not until after England had gained a naval ascendancy, 
that it was ever admitted to extend to places where the object 



*Mr. King's Letter to the Secretary of State, July 1803. 
f Order in Council of the 24th June 1803. 



2824. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. t3 

of the blockade was not their reduction. But in all cases the 
neutral attempting to enter is to be first warned to depart, and 
liable to capture and condemnation only on a second attempt.* 

Orders in Council. By an order of council of the 7th of Janu- 
ary, 1 807, no neutral vessel was allowed to trade from one 
port to another of France or her allies, or which was in pos- 
session of her armies, or of any countries from which British 
vessels were excluded. This order was not claimed to be 
founded upon any principles of national law, but in retaliation 
for French decrees, which the same order declares to be mere 
empty threats without the possibility of being executed. 

The orders in council of the 11th of November, super- 
•seded all former ones, and put an end to neutral trade. 
They declared all the ports and places of France, her allies, or 
any other country at war with England, or from which the 
British flag was excluded, and all their colonies to be in a 
State of blockade, and all commerce, in articles the produce 
or manufacture of such countries, to be unlawful. As a mat- 
ter of professed favour to neutrals, they were allowed to bring 
their cargoes to England, pay the British duties, and proceed 
to the Continent, where, for . this very reason, they would be 
subject to condemnation.! 

Milan Decree. This was followed by the French Milan 
decree, of the 17th of December, which declared all vessels 
bound to or sailing from England, or which had submitted to 
English search, to be subject to capture and condemnation. 

Both nations, in their treatment of neutrals, equally disre- 
garded their rights; and adopted principles unknown to the 
law of nations, and subversive of the plainest maxims of 
justice. Each claimed the right of destroying the commerce 
of the other, by prohibiting the trade of neutrals with their 
opponent. The doctrine of retaliation, which in certain cases 



* Vattel 508. 

t British order in courlcil, November 1807. 



20 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. V 

and to a limited extent, admits one belligerent, who has re- 
ceived an injury from his antagonist, to inflict the same on 
him in return, was drawn into view to justify the practice of 
inflicting on an innocent neutral, an injury of the same char- 
acter which the neutral had received from the opposing belli- 
gerent. These principles,carried into operation with the most 
rigorous energy, swept from the ocean the commerce of the 
United States ; and nothing but an utter inabiUty to resist them 
with effect could justify even a temporary forbearance. 

Berlin Decree. The French government, after the de- 
struction of their marine, and the absolute naval ascendancy of 
Great Britain, became the champions of the freedom of the 
seas. Dependent on neutrals for the litUe commerce they 
enjoyed, they were desirous of extending the immunities of 
the neutral flag, and proclaimed the principles of national law 
to be, that maritime war could not be lawfully extended to 
any private property, nor to persons who are not military : — 
that the right of blockade should be restrained to fortified 
places actually invested by a competent military force : that 
free ships should make free goods, and the flag protect the 
merchandise conveyed under it ; and that a ship was a part of 
the domain of the nation whose flag she bore, and could 
not be approached by a belligerent but for the purpose of 
taking enemy-soldiers in arms, and goods contraband of war. 
The adoption of these principles, it was obvious, would render 
the British marine in a great measure useless; and would 
be the last point that Great Britain would be expected to 
give up ; neutrals, however, were required to resist any 
encroachments upon them at all hazards; otherwise they 
would consider the neutral as forfeiting his character, his ships 
as denationalized, and liable to capture and condemnation. 
The promulgation of this doctrine was followed by a series 
of disastrous pillage on American commerce, for which the 
only reasgn assigned was that the United States did not resist 
British aggressions by immediate war. The French consid- 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 21 

ered American property on the ocean as free plunder, and 
captured, burnt, and destroyed it at their pleasure. The 
first public edict upon the subject, was the Berlin decree of 
November 1806, which, after recounting the various aggres- 
sions of the British upon neutral commercial rights, declares 
the British Islands to be in a state of blockade, and prohibits 
all commerce and correspondence with them ; and further 
declares all merchandise coming from English manufactories 
or from English colonies to be lawful prize ; and that no 
vessel coming from England, or her colonies, or having been 
there since the publication of the decrees, should be received 
into French ports. 

Conduct of British Ships in American Waters. To give 
efficacy to their orders in council, the British kept constantly 
hovering on the coast, and in the American waters, a 
large naval force. This was a constant source of vexation : 
scarcely a vessel could go in or out of a port without being 
arrested and searched by a British cruiser, and often on the 
most frivolous pretexts sent to England for condemnation. 

Conduct of the British Prize Courts. The British prize 
courts, though under the Presidency of Sir William Scott, a 
very able jurist, had moulded their doctrines and decisions in 
conformity to the views of government ; had given to the pro- 
clamations of the Prince Regent, and the orders in council, the 
power of abrogating the law of nations; and under the head of 
supporting what were claimed to be British maritime rights, 
had extinguished the just rights and privileges of all other 
nations. 

On the 25th of April, 1806, the British ship Leander, Cap- 
tain Whitby, in company with two other ships of war, off San- 
dy-Hook, fired upon the sloop Richard, a coasting vessel 
from Brandywine, coming into New- York, and killed John 
Pierce, the man at the helm. The sloop then pursued her 
course to the city, where the body was landed ; a jury of 
inquest held, and a verdict of wilful murder returned against 



«3 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1, 

Captain Whitby. The corpse was interred under direction of 
the city authorities with every mark of respect. The excite- 
ment which this outrage occasioned throughout the country was 
extreme. The President issued a proclamation ordering 
Whitby to be arrested for trial if ever found in any part of the 
United States, and prohibiting all intercourse with the Lean- 
der, and the ships in company with her. 

Capture of the Chesapeake. On the 22d of June, 1807, the 
American frigate Chesapeake, Commodore Barron, of thirty- 
six guns, sailed from Hampton Roads, on a cruise to the Med- 
iterranean. In proceeding to sea, she passed a British squadron 
at anchor in Lynnhavcn bay ; soon after, the British ship of 
war Leopard, of fifty guns, followed her ; at three leagues dis- 
tance from Cape Henry, the Leopard came up with the Ches- 
apeake, sent an officer on board, and demanded the surrender 
of a number of her crew, whom he claimed to be deserters 
from the British squadron, and showed an order from Admiral 
Berkeley, directing them to be taken by force in case of refu- 
sal. Commodore Barron replied that he had given his re- 
cruiting officers orders to enlist no British deserters ; that he 
knew of no such on board ; and that he should not suffer his 
crew to be mustered by any but his own officers. On re- 
ceiving this reply, the Leopard commenced a heavy fire on 
the Chesapeake ; Commodore Barron being wholly unpre- 
pared for action, sustained the fire about thirty minutes, and 
surrendered his ship. The Captain of the Leopard sent an 
officer on board, mustered the crew, took from them four 
persons whom he claimed to be British deserters, and returned 
to Lynnhaven bay. Three of them were afterwards proved 
to be impressed native American seamen ; the fourth was 
tried and executed as a British deserter. The Chesapeake 
had three men killed and eighteen wounded, and was so dam- 
aged in her hull and rigging as to be wholly unable to proceed 
on her voyage. The conduct of Commodore Barron was 
investigated by a naval tribunal, who censured him for not 



IS 12. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 23 

preparing his ship for action and returning the Leopard's fire, 
and ordered him suspended for a year. In consequence of 
this outrage,^ which appeared to be the consummation of acts 
of violence committed by the British on American ships, the 
President issued a proclamation forbidding all British armed 
vessels from entering the waters of the United States, and 
prohibiting all intercourse with them. The attack on the 
Chesapeake was afterwards disavowed by the British gov- 
ernment, the two surviving men restored, and provision made 
for the families of the slain ; this satisfaction was accepted by 
the American government. 

Monroe and Pinckney^s Treaty. In March 1 806, Mr. Wil- 
liam Pinckney, of Maryland, was appointed envoy extraordi- 
nary to the British court, and in conjunction with Mr. Mon- 
roe, the resident minister, directed to seek redress for past 
injuries, and obtain stipulations against the violation of neu- 
tral rights in future. On the subject of impressment, they were 
instructed to make it a preliminary, and without a satisfactory 
arrangement of that point, to conclude no treaty.* Mr. 
Pinckney left the United States in May, and immediately on 
his arrival, entered with Mr. Monroe on the business of his 
mission. On the subject of impressment, they found the Brit- 
ish government entirely inexora ble. The American ministers 
then informed the British that their instructions forbade their 
concluding any treaty in which that subject was not arranged, 
and of course their acts would not be obligatory upon their 
government. They proceeded however to the discussion of 
the other topics with the British ministry, and on the 31st of 
December concluded a treaty which contained no stipulation 
on the subject of impressment, no agreement for satisfaction 
for past injuries, and which impliedly, recognised the right 
of the British to interdict the neutral direct colonial trade, t 

* Instructions of May 17 th, 1806. 

I Monroe and Pinckney's treaty, December 3Ist, 1806-. 



24 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1. 

Accompanying the treaty, was a note from the British commis- 
sioners, declaring, that unless France repealed her edicts 
against neutral commerce with Great Britain, or America 
effectually resisted them, the treaty should not be obligatory 
upon the British government.* On receiving this treaty 
under these circumstances, the President rejected it without 
submitting it to the Senate. The envoys were instructed to 
renew the negotiations, and endeavour to obtain better terms. 
In attempting to do this, they were informed by the British 
ministry that further negotiations would be useless. 

Embargo. At this crisis the President convened Congress 
on the 26th of October, 1 807. It had become a subject deep- 
ly interesting to every portion of the community, what course 
the United States ought to pursue. That both belligerents 
had violated the most essential and important neutral rights 
of the United States, admitted of no doubt. These rights 
were essential to the prosperity of the nation, and as much 
the duty of the government to protect as their territory. 
The American government had been suing at the courts of 
the belUgerents, for more than twelve years, for liberty of 
enjoying some of the privileges accorded to neutrals by the 
laws of nations, and had sued in vain, and were at length told 
that further suits would be useless. The principle assumed 
by both belligerents was the same, viz. to violate any neu- 
tral right, when they could prejudice their enemy thereby. 
There was this practical difference between them. The Brit- 
ish were able to carry their edicts into execution with a most 
destructive energy ; the French decrees, from the weakness of 
their marine, were in a great measure empty threats. 

A large portion of the commercial part of the community, 
were in favour of permitting American vessels to arm in their 
own defence, and to leave it to the discretion of the merchant 
to pursue such commercial adventures as his judgment should 

* British note accompanying treaty, 31st of December. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ^5 

direct. This was considered by tiie government as com- 
promitting their honour, and affording fresh opportunities for 
continued insuUs. On the 18th of December the President 
recommended, and Congress afterwards adopted, an embargo, 
universal in extent, and unhmited in duration. Two objects 
were proposed by this measure: one, to induce the belligerents, 
from the inconveniences resulting to them from the depriva- 
tion of the American trade, to relax their hostility to neutral 
commerce ; the other to preserve the resources of the coun- 
try within itself. To give complete effect to the measure, it 
became necessary to lay the coasting trade under the most 
inconvenient and burthensome restrictions, and to prohibit all 
land intercourse between the United States, and the neigh- 
bouring British colonies. 

The experiment of compelling one nation to accede to 
the claims of another, by withholding " intercourse from all, 
had never before been made. The object was important, 
the attempt new," and could it have been successful, would 
have introduced a new and an important era in political science. 
It must have taken the place of wars in a great measure, as 
being a much more safe, easy, and cheap mode of enforcing a 
demand. The progress of improvement in international poli- 
tics, had not hitherto kept pace with that of the arts, but this 
would have placed it in advance ; and it was considered welj| 
worth almost any sacrifice to establish the principle, that the 
United States, by withholding their intercourse,; could so 
operate upon the wants of other nations, as to induce them 
to accede to their claims. But unfortunately for the success 
of this experiment, the French government, viewing it as a 
very timely aid to their continental system, and as much more 
injurious to their enemy than to themselves, highly applauded 
the measure. The British, at this time trading with all the world 
except France and its dependencies, found themselves in a 
situation to endure a deprivation of American commerce 
much longer than, in their opinion, the Americans would be 

4 



26 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1. 

able to endure a universal suspension of theirs. The British 
national character, and honour too in their apprehension, was 
at slake, and forbade their yielding the point. To an offer 
made the British government to repeal the embargo as to 
them, and continue it as to France, in case she would revoke 
her orders in council, they gave a decided negative, remark- 
ing that " his majesty would not hesitate to contribute in 
any manner in his power to restore to the commerce of the 
United States its wonted activity; and if it were possible to 
make any sacrifice for the repeal of the embargo, without 
appearing to deprecate it as a measure of hostility, he would 
gladly have facilitated its removal, as a measure of inconve- 
nient restriction upon the American people."* 

By the suspension of foreign commerce, a large portion of 
the community, whose employment and subsistence depended 
upon business connected with navigation, were instantly thrown 
out of employment and reduced to distress. The productions 
of agriculture were perishing on the hands of the planters ; 
the ships of the merchant rotting at the wharves, and the sea- 
men dispersing themselves through the country seeking em- 
ployment and , subsistence. These inconveniencies, how- 
ever, were in some measurec ounterbalanced by the estabhsh- 
mfenl of various important branches of manufactures. 
t' Erskine's Arrangement. In January 1809, the British cabi- 
net transmitted instructions to their minister at Washington, 
Mr. Erskine, to offer the American government, that, in case 
they would repeal all their restrictive acts against Great Bri- 
tain, and leave them in force against France, renounce all 
claim to the colonial trade, submit to the rule of the war of 
1756, and agree that the British cruisers might capture all 
American vessels attempting to trade with France contrary 
to the provisions of those laws, the British government would 
consent to withdraw their orders in council, so far as it re- 

* Canning's Letter to FiUcksey, Sept. 23,1808. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 3? 

spected America. On these propositions being made to the 
American government, they were at once rejected. The 
British minister, misapprehending his instructions, then pro- 
ceeded to agree to the terms proposed by the Secretary of 
State: That upon the orders in council being removed, the 
President would issue a proclamation restoring intercourse 
with Great Britain, and leaving the restrictive laws in force 
against France. This arrangement being made, the orders 
in council were declared to be revoked after the 10th June, 
1809,* and the President, by proclamation, declared the ac- 
customed intercourse between the United States and Grea^^ 
Britain to be renewed after that period. 

The British government disavowed this arrangement, and 
declared that their minister had exceeded his instruetionSy 
and that their ordersjn council were still in force. Mr. Ers- 
kine was immediately recalled, and his place supplied by Mr. 
Jackson, late minister at Copenhagen. 

^"^ Jackson' s Mission. This minister seems to have entered 
on his mission deeply impressed with ideas of the importance 
of the power that sent him, and of the inferiority of the power 
to which he was sent, and disposed to treat the government of 
the United States with the same insolence that had been 
practised towards the Danish government and other minor 
European powers. To an intimation from the Secretary of 
Stale, that upon the important topics which were the subject 
of discussion between them, it was desirable that their com- 
munications should be in writing, as less liable to error arjd 
misapprehension, he replied, that he believed that there does 
not exist in the annals of diplomacy, a precedent for such a 
determination, and after entering his protest, complied with the 
intimation. On being called upon to explain the reasons why 
his government disavowed the proceedings of his predeces- 
sor, he stated that the American government knew that he ex- 

* Erskine's Arrangement of lOth April, 1809. 



2fi HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. I. 

ceeded his instructions, and of course had no reason to expect 
the arrangement would be approved. On being told that the 
American government had no such knowledge, he repeated 
the assertion. He was informed that it was highly indecorous 
directly to contradict the solemn declarations of the govern- 
ment. He after\Vards repeated the assertion, and w-as then 
informed, that for the purpose of avoiding future insults, no 
further communication'would be received from him.* On the 
disavowal of Mr. Erskine's arrangement by the British gov- 
ernment, the President's proclamation was revoked, and 
the relation between the two countries restored to its former 
footing. On a representation by Mr. Pinckney to the British 
government, of the conduct of Mr. Jackson, he was recalled ; 
and after a delay of a year and a half, his place supplied by 
Mr. Foster. 

After an experiment of fifteen months, the government and 
people of the United States became fully satisfied that aij, 
American embargo was a very feeble and inefficient weapon 
against foreign aggression. It was therefore determined to 
abandon it, and substitute a system of non-intercourse and non- 
importation against both belligerents. 

Non-In-^ortation and Non-Intercourse Laws. In March 1809, 
Congress raised the embargo as to all other nations, except 
Great Britain, France, and their dependencies, and substituted 
a system of non-intercourse and non-importation as to them, 
which prohibited all voyages to the British or French domin- 
ions, and all trade in articles of British or French product or 
manufacture ; at the same time authorizing the President, in 
case either power should so revoke or modify their edicts, as 
that they should cease to violate the neutral commerce of the 
United States, to declare the same by proclamation, after 
which trade might be renewed with the nation so doing. On 
the 1st of May, 1810, the non-intercourse and non-importation 



* Secretary of State to Mr. Jackson, Nov. 8th, 1809. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 29 

laws were repealed, and an act passed excluding both British 
and French armed vessels from the waters of the United 
States ;^and further providing, that, in case either Great Bri- 
tain or France should so revoke or modify their edicts before 
the 3d of March, 181 1, as that they should cease to violate the 
neutral commerce of the United States, and if the other na- 
tion should not within three months thereafter, in like manner 
revoke or modify their edicts, the provisions of the non-inter- 
course and non-importation laws should, at the expiration of 
the said three months, be revived against the nation neglecting 
or refusing so to modify their edicts.* 

Champagny^s l^etter to Armstrong announcing the Repeal of 
the French Decrees. > On the communication of this act to the 
French government, their Secretary of foreign affairs, on the 
5th of August 1810, addressed a note to Mr. Armstrong, the 
American minister, declaring "that the decrees of Berlin and 
Milan are revoked, and that after the first day of the following 
November, they will cease to have effect; it being understood, 
that in consequence of this declaration, the English shall re- 
voke their orders in council, and renounce the new principles 
of blockade which they have wished to establish, or that the 
United States, conformably to their law, will cause their rights 
to be respected by the English.""^ 

'' The President considered this as a compliance on the pai*t 
of France, with the provisions of the act of the 1st of May, 
and on the 2d of November, issued a proclamation, declaring 
that the edicts of France, violating the neutral commerce of 
the United States, were so revoked, as to cease to have effect 
on the 1st of November, and that from that period, all re- 
strictions should be discontinued in relation to France and 
her dependencies. J 

* Act of May 1st, 1810. 

f Champagny's Letter of the 5th of August 1810. 

J Prfesident's Proclamation of the 2d of November. 



30 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1. 

On the same day, a circular was addressed from the treas- 
ury department, to the collectors of the customs, directing 
them to admit French armed vessels into the ports and waters 
of the United States ; and to apply, after the 2d of February, 
1811, to English vessels of every description, and to the 
productions and manufactures of England, the provisions of 
the non-intercourse and non-importation laws, unless prior to 
that period the revocation of the orders in council should be 
announced by the President. 

On the 25th of December, the French minister of justice 
gave directions to the council of prizes, diat all proceed- 
ings against American vessels, captured after the 1st of No- 
vember, should be suspended until the 2d of February, and 
in case the restrictive system was then revived, and carried 
into effect by the United States, against Great Britain; that 
the captures should be declared null, and the vessels and car- 
goes restored. 

On the same day, the minister of finance gave orders to 
the director general of the customs, that the Berlin and Milan 
decrees were not to be applied to American vessels entering 
the ports of France, after the 1st of the preceding Novem- 
ber. 

These proceedings were pressed upon the British govern- 
ment, as evidence of the repeal of the French decrees, and a 
revocation of their orders in council was claimed, they having 
been always professed to be founded upon those decrees, 
and assurances having been given, that they should be of no 
longer duration. These applications, reiterated and enforced 
with great zeal and ability by Mr. Pinckney, were unavail- 
ing, notwithstanding the French minister of foreign relations 
had declared to the American ambassador, that the obnox- 
ious decrees were repealed ; and orders had been given in 
pursuance thereof to the prize courts, and directors of the 
customs, to govern themselves accordingly in their treatment 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 31 

of American navigation. The British ministry affected to consid- 
er these proceedings of the French government, as unofficial 
and deceptive. Their orders in council remained in force, and 
the restrictive system was revived against them in February 
1811, according to the provisions of the act of May 1810. 



*♦ 



« 

# 






CHAPTER 11. 

First Meeting of Twelfth Congress. — Message. — Correspondence be- 
tween Monroe and Foster. — Decisions of the Admiralty Courts in the 
Case of the Fox, and others. — Report of the Committee of Foreiga 
Relations. — Arguments of the Minority against the Report. — John 
Henry's Papers. — His Instructions. — His Correspondence. — Inquiry 
respecting Him in the House of Representatives. — Message of the 
1st of June. — Report of Committee of Foreign Relations, recommend- 
ing War. — Declaration of War. — Address of the Minority to their 
Constituents. — Army and Navy Bills. — Treasury Estimates. — Plan 
of Finance for the War. — Loan for 1812. 

fleeting of Congress, The 1st session of the 1 2th Con- 
gress commenced, by a special call from the President, oa 
the 4th of November, 1811. Having been recently elected, 
the members assembled, possessed of a full knowledge of the 
feelings and views of their constituents. 

Message. In his message, at the opening of the sessiouj 
the President informed them, that the successive confirmations 
of the repeal of the French decrees, so far as they violated 
the neutral commerce of the United States, had not induced 
the government of Great Britain to revoke her orders in^ 
council ; that they continued to be executed with increased 
rigour ; that Great Britain now further claimed, as an indis- 
pensable condition of the repeal of those orders, that com- 
merce should be restored to a footing that would admit 
British manufactures, when carried by neutrals into markets 
shut against them by their enemy ; that the British ministry 
claimed the repeal of the non-intercourse-laws, and had 
declared that their continuance against Great Britain, after 
they were repealed as to France, would lead to measures of 
retaliation; that all indemnity for past injuries had been 

S 



/>> 



24 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2 

■withheld; that the coasts and harbours of the United States 
had witnessed scenes derogatory to national rights, and vex- 
atious to the regular course of trade ; and that France had 
indeed repealed her obnoxious decrees, but had refused to 
redress the other wrongs done to the United States, and to 
restore a great amount of American property, taken and con- 
demned under the most unjustifiable edicts. 

Under these circumstances, the President stated, that the 
executive had exerted the means with which it was intrusted, 
for the general safety. The works of defence, on the mari- 
time frontier, had been prosecuted with activity, and the most 
important ones nearly completed. The ships of war had been 
employed as a cruising guard on the coast, and such a dispo- 
sition of the land forces made, as would render their services 
the most important : that a considerable body of regulars and 
militia had been assembled in the Indiana Territory, and 
marched toward the north-western frontier. 

The President recommended to Congress, to make pro- 
vision for prolonging the enlistments, and filling the ranks of 
the regular army; to raise an auxiliary force for a hmited 
time*, and to accept the services of volunteer corps: and that 
such provision be made on the subject of the naval force as 
should be necessary to prepare it for active service. That it 
be prohibited to accept licenses from foreign governments, 
for a trade unlawfully interdicted by them to other American 
citizens ; or to trade under false colours, or papers of any 
description : that vessels from foreign countries be prohibited 
from admission into particular ports, which were authorized 
to trade with those ports only. 

In making the estimates for the ensuing year. Congress 
were reminded that the probable decrease of revenue arising 
from the suspension of commerce, and the extraordinary 
expenses which had already and might in future become 
necessary, miist be taken into view; and that a sufficiency of 
revenue should be provided, to defray the ordinary expenses 






1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 35 

of government, and pay the interest on the public debt^ 
including the new loans that may be authorized. * 

Correspondence between the American and British Ministers, 
Accompanying the message was a voluminous correspond- 
ence between the American secretary of state, and the British 
minister. The correspondence opened by a letter from the 
latter to the former, of the 3d of July, 181 1, claiming that the 
blockade of May 1806 was warranted by the established 
law of nations, because it was intended to be, and in fact 
was, supported by an adequate naval force, appointed to 
guard the whole coast described in the notification. That 
the Berlin decree was not justified by any of the pretexts set 
up by France, that it was an outrage upon all neutral rights, 
and if submitted to by America, %vould justify Great Britain 
in adopting retaliatory measures in her own defence. That 
her orders in council were predicated upon the principle of 
defensive retaliation. 

That the blockade of 1806 was included in the more 
extensive orders in council; and that these would not be con- 
tinued beyond the effectual repeal of the French decrees. 
That the communication of the French minister to General 
Armstrong, of the 5th of August, 1810, was not such a repeal: 
that the Emperor, in a speech to the deputies, from the free 
cities of Bremen, Hamburgh, and Lubeck, of the 17th of 
June, had declared that the decrees of Berlin and Milan should 
be the public code of France, as long as England should 
maintain her illegal blockades : that captures and condemna- 
tions of American vessels had taken place under the opera- 
tion of those decrees, since they were said to have been 
repealed. He complained that America had suftered her 
trade to be moulded into the means of annoyance to Great 
Britain, under the provisions of the French decrees; that she 
had construed those decrees to have become extinct upon a 
. — * 

* President'^ messag^e, November 5fh, 1811. 



.56 HISTORY OF THE I.ATE WAR- ChAp. 2. 

deceitful declaration of the French cabinet, and had unjustly, 
and contrary to her duties as a neutral, enforced her restric- 
tive measures against Great Britain alone. 
/ The department of state was at this time confided to Mr. 
Monroe, a statesman of distinguished practical talents, per- 
fectly versed in the relations of the United States with for- 
eign powers, and able to defend the system which had been 
adopted towards them. /'On the 23d of July, he replied "that 
it was not necessary for the United States to determine the 
priority of aggression in order to show that Great Britain 
was in the wrong. That in regard to the blockades, by the 
known and acknowledged law of nations, ports not actu- 
ally invested, by a present, adequate, stationary, naval force, 
.employed by the power which attacks them, should not be 
considered as shut to neutral trade in articles not contraband 
of war. Though it is usual for a belligerent to give notice to 
neutrals, when he intends to institute a blockade, yet he may 
not aet upon his intention at all, or he may discontinue the 
blockade, of which'it is not usual to give notice ; consequently 
the actual presence of the blockading force is the only cri- 
terion by which the neutral is enabled to ascertain the exis- 
tence of the blockade at any given period. A mere notifica- 
tion therefore to a neutral minister, cannot be considered as 
affecting with knowledge of the actual existence of a block- 
ade, either his government, or its citizens. That a vessel 
, cleared or bound to a blockaded port should not be consid- 
ered as violating the blockade, unless on her approach to sucii 
port, she should have been previously warned to depart. 
That this view of the law is peculiarly important to nations 
situated at a great distance from the belligerent parties, and 
incapable at any given period of obtaining actual informa- 
tion of the then existing state of their ports. That whole 
coasts and countries should not be declared in a state of 
"blockade, and thus neutral trade extinguished, and this prac- 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. sf 

tice made an instrument of unjust monopoly, instead of a 
measure of honourable war." 

In relation to the orders in council, the secretary observed, 
"that if the right of retaliation was admitted, it should be 
carried no further against an unotfendihg neutral, than the 
actual operation of the French decrees, which in the present 
case, were admitted to be little more than empty threats: 
while on the other hand, the orders in council gave a deadly 
blow to American commerce, and extended their operations 
against the trade of the United States with nations, which, 
like Russia, had not adopted the French decrees. That the 
modification contained in the first orders, which allowed 
neutrals to prosecute their trade through Great Britain, con- 
tained a pretension utterly incompatible with the sovereignty 
of other states, and in a commercial point of view, altogether 
nugatory. As France did not permit a neutral to come into 
her ports from her enemy, this attempt of Great Britain to 
force the trade of the United States through her ports, would 
have the effect of depriving them of the markets of France, 
and at the same time destroying their value in the Britisii 
market by a surcharge of it. Against the system adopted by 
both belligerents, the United Slates had at an early period 
made a solemn protest. It had been their uniform object 
to avoid becoming a party to the war. They had ob- 
served a strict impartiality towards both belligerents, having 
in no instance given a preference to one at the expense of the 
other. The alternative presented by the act of May 1810, 
was offisred equally to both, and could operate upon neither 
any longer than it should persevere in its aggressions. That 
if it makes a distinction at this time in its operation between 
the belligerents, it necessarily results from the compliance of 
one, with the offer made to both, and which is still open to the 
compliance of the other. The violations alluded to in the 
act, are those only which are committed on the high seas. It 
was the revocation of these edicts alone, that the United 



38 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2. 

States could claim : that these were in reality and in practice 
revoked, was proved not only from the declarations of the 
French minister of the 5th of August, 1810, but from the fact 
that no American vessel had been condemned under them 
since the 1st of November, when the revocation was to take 
effect ; and from the directions given to the tribunal of prizes, to 
make no decision on causes depending on those edicts, until after 
the 2d of February, and on the United States enforcing the 
non-importation law against Great Britiain at that period, the 
property was restored to the owners." This discussion, and 
a similar one conducted at the British court between Mr. 
Pinckney, and the Marquis of Wcllesley, ended in both par- 
ties' maintaining the ground they had taken, without any con- 
cessions by either.* 

Condemnation of American Vessels. Further documents 
were communicated to Congress, showing that in June 1811, 
Sir Wiliam Scott, judge of the vice admiralty court, had pro- 
ceeded to render judgment in the cases of the American ves- 
sels brought into England, and libelled under the orders in 
council, since the French decrees w^ere said to be repealed. 
The judge admits the principle that the law of nations is the 
rule of decision in that court. Having granted this point, to 
give the opinion which he was about to declare the appear- 
ance of consistency, he had to establish two positions: one, 
that the orders in council are consistent with the law of 
nations ; the other, that the French decrees are not repealed 
as to the United States. In this effort, he exhibits the un- 
pleasant spectacle of a great man, for pohtical purposes, 
arguing against the convictions of his own understanding. 
He labours to show, that the law of nations justifies a retalia- 
tion upon neutrals, of the aggressions inflicted upon such 
neutrals by the opposing belligerent. That the orders in 

* Correspondence between Monroe and Foster, communicated to Con- 
gress, November 1811. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. s9 

council are no more than a just measure of retaliation for 
the French decrees, and are therefore justifiable. 

That the only proper evidence of the revocation of the 
orders in council is some act of the government imposing 
them. 

That if a repeal of the French decrees would, without any 
act of the British government, operate as a revocation of the 
orders, yet that no such repeal had ever taken place ; the 
pretended repeal being prospective, conditional, and never 
having been carried into eftect. The judge then proceeded 
to render judgment against twenty-eight American vessels, of 
the value of ^832,500, captured and libelled since the 1st of 
the preceding November.* 

Report of Committee of Foreign Relations. The message 
and documents were referred to the committee of foreign 
relations,! who reported agreeably to the recommendation of 
the President, a system of measures, for the increase of the 
military and naval forces, preparatory to a declaration of war. 
The object of the military force was declared to be the con- 
quest of the Canadas. 

In introducing their report to the consideration of the 
house, the committee declare that open avowed war with 
Great Britain is the object, and those who are not prepared 
for such an event will of course be opposed to the principles 
of the report. That in their opinion, the rights which Great 
Britain had forcibly wrested from the United States, were 
worth the hazard of war. That both the interest and honour 
of the nation called for the measure. That even without a 
navy, serious impressions might be made on Great Britain at 
sea. That immediately after a declaration of war, numerous 



*Sir William Scott's decision in the case of the Fox and others, June 
1811. 

t Porter, Calhoun, Grundj, Smilie, Randolph, Harper, Key, Desha^ 
Seavcr. 



40 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. 2. 

American privateers would appear in every part of the ocean, 
and annoy her commerce. That they would harrass, if not 
destroy the vast and profitable commerce which she is carry- 
ing on to every part of the American continent. We could 
destroy, say the committee, her fisheries in the north, depre- 
date on her commerce to the West-India Islands, which is 
constantly passing by our doors, annoy her trade along the 
coast of South America, and even carry the war on her com- 
merce to her own shores in Europe. But, said the committee, 
there is another point where we can attack her, and where 
she would feel our power most sensibly. We could deprive 
her of her extensive provinces lying along our borders on the 
north. These provinces were not only immensely valuable 
in themselves, but almost indispensable to Great Britain, cut 
off as she now is in a great measure, from the north of Europe, 
The exports from Quebec alone for the last year, are said to 
amount to nearly six millions; and most of them in articles of 
the first necessity, in ship-timber, and in provisions for the 
support of her fleets and armies. By carrying on such a 
war, at the public expense on land, and by individual enter- 
prise at sea, we should be able to remunerate ourselves in a 
short time, ten-fold for all the spoliations she had committed 
on our commerce. On this occasion, the committee trusted 
that party reflections and recriminations would cease, and 
that the whole House Of Representatives, and the great body 
of the people, would form but one party, and the enemy the 

other. 

Arguments against the war. A respectable minoiity in 
both Houses of Congress, a large portion of the community, 
including a majority of the commercial interests, were op- 
posed to a war. The genius of the American government, 
ihey contended, calculated for all the beneficial purposes of 
peace, is not adapted to war. After hostilities are decided on 
in the cabinet, they are to be submitted to Congress, there to 
undergo a discussion of six or eight months, under the view 



J8)5. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 4I 

of the minister of the nation against whom they are directed, 
who will be careful to record and transmit to his government 
every occurrence. In this manner, by the time war is de- 
clared, the enemy will become fully possessed of the views, 
objects, and plans of his opponent. After war is decided 
on in Congress, an army is to be raised by voluntary enlisf- 
ment; a process always slow and uncertain, and often una- 
vailable. This completed, the army is to be equipped, disci- 
plined, and marched to its object, where doubtless the enemy 
will be found ready to receive them. No police to banish 
suspected persons, and to detect and punish spies and traitors. 
By the time an American army would reach the borders of 
Canada, they would be met, it was predicted, by a British force 
of European veterans, provincial militia, and Indian warriors, 
sufficient to withstand them. Canada is not so easy a con- 
quest. Bonaparte might, indeed, have declared war, con- 
quered the country, and made peace before an American 
army could have commenced its operations. Canada 
conquered, it adds but an immense wilderness to the American 
territory, and incorporates into its society, a people of discor- 
dant habits and principles, and instead of strengthening, 
weakens the Union. 

The texture of the iVmerican government, composed of 
powerful and independent sovereignties, associated in rela- 
tions some of which are critical as well as novel, is such that 
war might put its existence at hazard. War is most likely to 
call into activity the passions which are hostile to such a form 
of government. Time and further experience is yet impor- 
t-ant to mature its recent institutions. If war is now entered 
into, it must be by a divided people, as well from a conviction 
of the inadequacy of the means of success, as from moral and 
political considerations. 

"How," said the gentlemen in opposition to the war, m 
powerful strains of eloquence, " shall a nation like the Unite<5 
States, happy in its great local relations, removed from the 
bloody theatre of Europe, with a maritime bol'der opening 

G 



42 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAB. Chap. 2, 

vast fitkls for enterprise, with territorial possessions exceed- 
ing every real want, its fire-sides safe, its altars undefiled ; 
fl'om invasion nothing to fear, from acquisition nothing to 
hope; how shall such a nation look to heaven for its smiles, 
while throwing away, as though they were worthless, all the 
blessings and joys which peace and such a distinguished lot 
scture? With what prayers can it address the Most High, 
when it prepares to pour forth its youthful rage upon a neigh- 
bouring people, from whose strength it has nothing to dread, 
fi-om whose destruction it has nothing to gain ? What balm 
has Canada for wounded honour? How are our mariners to 
be benefited by a war, which exposes those who are free with- 
out releasing those who have been impressed? But this war, 
it is said, is demanded by honour. Is national honour then 
a principle that thirsts after vengeance, and is appeased only 
by blood; which trampling on the hopes of man, and spurn- 
ing the laws of God, untaught by what is past, and careless of 
what is to come, precipitates itself into any folly or madness 
to gratify its vanity, or satiate some unhallowed rage ? 

If honour demands a war with England, what opiate lulls 
that honour to sleep over the wrongs done by France ? On 
land, robberies, seizures, and imprisonments ; at sea, pillage, 
sinkings, and burnings. These are notorious. Are they 
unfelt because they are French? To supply the waste of 
such a war, and to meet the appropriations of millions, extra- 
ordinary for the war expenditures, our citizens must be 
doomed, throughout the Union, to sustain the burthen of v/ar-- 
raxes, in vai'ious forms of direct and indirect imposition. 

"It would be some relief, if amends were likely to be made 
for the weakness and wildness of the project, by the prudence 
of the preparation. But in no respect can we trace any 
great and distinctive properties of wisdom. With a navy com- 
paratively nominal, we are about to encounter the greatest 
marine on the globe. With a commerce unprotected and. 
spread over every ocean, we propose to make profit by 
ohvateering, and for this endanger the wealth of which we are 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 43 

the honest proprietors. An invasion is threatened of the 
colonies of a power, which, without putting a single new ship 
in commission, or taking another soldier into pay, can spreaj 
alarm and desolation along the extensive range of our sea- 
board. Before adequate fortifications are prepared for do- 
mestic defence, before men or money are provided for an 
attack, why hasten into that awful contest which desolates 
Europe ? It is not to be concealed, that to engage in the 
present war against England, is to place ourselves on the side 
of France, and expose ourselves to the vassalage of states 
serving under the banners of the French emperor." On the 
sea-board is an extent of more than two thousand miles, 
bordered with flourishing cities wholly unguarded ; not a sin- 
gle port able to protect itself against a British fleet. An infant 
navy, unable to defend itself, or to guard a city, or scarcely 
to contend with a single ship of the line. This navy would 
probably fall into the hands of the enemy, and be the means 
of their further aggrandizement. Should, however, the Ameri- 
can arms, united with France, conquer Great Britain, America 
must herself expect to fall the next victim to French des- 
potism. The causes of war exist equally against France, and 
her means of annoyance are much less ; while the British are 
masters of the ocean, the United States arc safe from her 
attacks. 

The true interest, honour, and sound policy of the United 
States, it was contended, require them to stand aloof from the 
present contest, leave the merchant to improve the remnant 
of commerce at his own discretion, abolish the restrictive 
system, and wait until a change of circumstances in Europe 
should restore the former state of things. A considerable 
portion of commerce is still open to American enterprise. 
The French decrees could interrupt only in a small degree 
the American trade, the risks of which would soon be meas- 
ured by the insurance offices, so that the ship owners might 
trade with safety. That the trade with France, whose go- 
v^ernment obliges the American merchant to take in pay- 



44 HISTOKY OF THE LATE WAK. Chac, 2. 

ment i'ov his valuable commodities a return cargo of silks and 
brandies, was not worth contendijig for, and putting at hazard 
the dearest interests of the Union.* 

John JIenri/''s Disclosure. As further evidence of the hos- 
tile views of Great Britain towards the United States, and of 
a disposition to cherish and to profit by any internal dissen- 
tions which might be suj)posed to exist, the President, on the 
0th of March, communicated to Congress the documents and 
disclosures received at the department of state, from John 
Hehry ; from which it appeared, that Sir James Craig, Govern- 
or General of the Canadas, in February 1809, employed this 
man, an Irish emigrant, and formerly a captain in the United 
States service, now a desperate and unprnicipled adventurer, 
in a mission of intrigue, and directed him to proceed from 
Montreal to Boston, withinstructions toobtainthe mostaccurate 
information of the true state of affairs in that part of the Union, 
which, as he states, from its wealth, number of inhabitants, 
and the known intelligence and ability of several of its lead- 
ing men, must naturally possess a very considerable influence 
over, and would probably lead, the other Eastern States at 
this important crisis. To observe the state of public opinion, 
both with regard to their internal politics, and to a probability 
of a war with England; the comparative strength of the 
two great parties into which the country is divided, and the 
views and designs of that which may ultimately prevail. The 
instructions " proceed to remark, that it has been supposed 
that if the federalists are successful in obtaining that decided 
influence which may enable them to direct public opinon, that 
rather than submit to the continuance of the difficulties and 
distress to which they are now subject, they will exert that 
influence to bring about a separation from the general Union. 
The earhest information on this subject may be of great con- 
sequcnee to our government ; as also to be informed how far, 
in such an event, they would look to England for assistance, 
or be disposed to enter into a connexion with us. 



* ^eliates in Congress, DecembeT 1811. 



1812. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 45 

"Although it is inexpedient that you should appear as an 
avowed agent, yet it may not be improper that you should 
insinuate, that if they should wish to enter into any communica- 
tion with our government through me, you are authorized to 
receive any such, and will safely transmit it to me. As they 
may require some document by which they may be assured 
that you are really in a situation in which you represent your- 
self, I enclose a credential to be produced in that view ; but 
you are not to make use of it, unless you see good ground for 
expecting that it may lead to a more confidential communica- 
tion. In passing through Vermont you will of course exert 
your endeavours to procure all the information in your 
power."* 

Furnished with these instructions, and with a cypher, for 
the purpose of carrying on a secret correspondence with his 
principal, this political spy set out on his mission on the 11th 
of February. At Burlington, Vermont, he fancied he had 
found considerable materials for sedition, and a very favoura- 
ble disposition towards his majesty's government and Sir 
James's administration in Canada, so that in case of a war 
with Great Britain, Vermont would remain neutral. At Wind- 
sor, his faith appeared very much shaken ; and at Amherst, 
New-Hampshire, he found himself unable to form any opin- 
ion upon the subject. He arrived at Boston on the 5th of 
March, and remained there until the first of June, during 
which time he amused his employers with ten letters, address- 
ed to Sir James, informing him of the disposition he had 
discovered in the leading men, without naming any, to oppose 
the embargo laws, and in case of a war with Great Britain, 
to oppose the general government, and separate from the 
Union. This disposition was to be cherished and cultivated 
with the greatest caution and prudence. He was himself, he 
states, very instrumental in bringing it about, and the result 
would be highly beneficial to the safety and prosperity of his 

* Sir J. Craig's instructions to J. Henry, Feb. 6th, 1809. 



46 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cjhap. 2. 

majesty's colonies. While things were progressing in his 
apprehension in a most prosperous way, the President's 
prompt acceptance of the friendly propositions made by Great 
Britain, through Mr. Erskine, produced a sudden change, and 
a temporary suspension of the conflict of parties. Accor- 
ding to Henry's views, both parties regarded that event 
with equal wonder and distrust. They ascribe the President's 
conduct to various motives, but none believe him to be sin- 
cere. * This event put an end to Mr. Henry's mission. His 
papers were all transcribed, and sent to the British ministry, 
and Lord Liverpool speaks in terms of commendation of the 
zeal and ability with which he executed his trust. Henry 
returned to Montreal, and from thence to London, and pre- 
sented his claims for compensation to Lord Liverpool, who 
referred him back to Sir George Prevost, the successor of Sir 
James. But his demands were of such a nature and magni- 
tude, as to meet a denial. The spy now became traitor, and 
came to Washington full of zeal and atfection for the United 
States, and desirous of making a disclosure which should be 
all important to their interests. T The whole of his papers, 
the most secret and confidential between him and his govern- 
ment, were disclosed to the department of state, for the pur- 
pose of being made public. He received fifty thousand dol- 
lars for his treachery, and retired to France to enjoy the fruits 
of his speculation. 

This disclosure proved that its author was a villain ; that 
his employers were desirous of obtaining accurate informa- 
tion of the state of political parties in America, and of profit- 
in^' by their dissensions ; and that they were in the habit of 
employing secret agents for this purpose. The conduct of 
the administration in obtaining these documents, was severely 
censured by the opposition. They considered the conduct 
of Henry in betraying the secrets of his government, as highly 



* Henry's Letters to Craig, from No. 3 to 14. 

\ Henry's Letters to the Secretary of State, February 20, 1812. 



J 8121 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 47 

criminal, and endeavoured to implicate the American cabinet 
upon the generally received principle, that he who procures a 
crime to be committed is equally guilty with the perpetrator; 
without admitting, as a justification, the maxim in pohtical 
morality often practised upon, that where an important object 
is to be obtained, the means are not to be scrupulously ques- 
tioned. They also claimed that the information, purchased 
at so dear a rate, was of no importance : no facts were dis- 
closed, other than what might naturally be supposed to exist ; 
and none from which any practical consequences resulted. 

In the House of Representatives five thousand copies of 
Henry's documents were ordered to be printed, and the sub- 
ject referred to the committee of foreign relations, with power 
to send for persons, papers, and efiects, but no further dis- 
coveries were obtained. In the senate a I'esolution was passed, 
requesting the President to furnish the names of any persons 
anywise implicated in Henry's disclosures. To this appli- 
cation the secretary of state reported, that no persons had 
been named by Henry as having any concern in his views 
and projects. * 

Further Correspondence between the American and British 
Ministers. On the 1st of June the President transmitted to 
Congress a correspondence between Mr. Russell, the Ameri- 
can charge des affaires at London, and the British ministry, 
on the subject of the orders in council, by which it appeared, 
that they inflexibly adhered to their system, and that all hopes 
of accommodation were at an end. At the same time a fur- 
ther correspondence was communicated between Mr. Foster 
and the secretary of state on the same subject. As evidence 
that the French decrees were not repealed, Mr. Foster 
adduced a report of the French minister of foreign relations 
to the emperor of the tenth of March, which was communi- 
cated to the conservative senate, in which it is stated that 



* Journals of the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress, 
March 1812. 



48 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2. 

these decrees are to be the bases of a system to exclude 
British merchandise from the continent of Europe. That 
the armies of the emperor are to occupy the countries under 
his control, for the purpose of carrying into effect these 
objects. That neutral vessels that had submitted to English 
legislation by touching at an Enghsh port, or paid tribute to 
England, had thereby renounced the rights of their flag, and 
become denationalized. The British minister, therefore, 
claimed that the non-importation law ought to be repealed as 
to Great Britain, and commerce with her placed on the same 
footing as with France. 

To this claim Mr. Monroe replied, that the American govern- 
ment had no concern with the edicts of the French emperor, 
operative only on the continent of Europe, or w^th his conduct 
towards any other nation that the United States. That the 
document in question furnished no evidence of a renewal of 
those decrees, so far as they affected American commerce on 
the ocean, and of course afforded no claim on the part of 
Great Britain for the repeal of the non-importation law, or 
any justification for a continuance of the orders in council. 

In communicating these documents to Congress, the Presi- 
dent stated that further negotiations would be useless. That 
it had now become a solemn question for the national legisla- 
ture to decide, whether they should abandon their rights, or 
appeal to arms for their support. * 

Declaration of War, The committee of foreign relations, 
to whom the message and documents were referred, reported, 
" that the period had now arrived, when the United States 
must support their character and station among the nations of 
the earth, or submit to the most shameful degradation. For- 
bearance had ceased to be a virtue. War on one side, and 
peace on the other, is a situation as ruinous as it is disgrace- 
ful. The mad ambition and commercial avarice of Great 
Britain arrogated to herself the complete dominion of the 



■ President's Message, June 1, 1812, and Documents. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 49 

ocean, and left to neutral nations an alternative only between 
a base surrender of their rights and a manly vindication of 
them. That the United States, under the aid of Heaven, held 
their destinies in their own hands." 

The committee then proceed to enumerate the British 
aggressions upon the neutral rights of the United States, from 
the commencement of the European war, to the period of 
their report. " More recently," they remark, " the true policy 
of the British government has been completely unfolded." It 
has been publicly declared that the orders in council should 
not be repealed, until France had revoked all her internal 
restraints on British commerce^ That the American trade 
with France, and her allies should be prohibited until Great 
Britain was also allowed to trade with France. By this de- 
claration it appears, that nothing short of the United States 
joining in the war against France would satisfy the claims of 
the British government. They consider the United States as 
their great commercial rival, and their prosperity and growth 
as incompatible with the welfare of Great Britain. Under 
all these circumstances, the committee remark, " it is impossi- 
ble to doubt the motives which have governed the British 
ministry in all its measures towards the United States; equally 
impossible is it to doubt the course which America ought to 
pursue. The contest which is now forced upon her, is radi- 
cally a contest for her sovereignty and independence. The 
free-born sons of America are worthy to enjoy the liberty 
which their fathers purchased at the price of much blood and 
treasure ; and the committee seeing in the measures adopted 
by Great Britain, a course commenced and persisted in, which 
if submitted to, might lead to a loss of national character and 
independence, feel no hesitation in advising to a resistance by 
force, in which the Americans of the present day, will prove 
to the enemy and to the world, that they not only have inher- 
ited that liberty which their fathers gave them, but also the 
will and the power to maintain it. Relying on the patriotism 
of the nation, and confidently trusting that the liord of hosts 

7 



50 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2. 

will go with us to battle in a righteous cause, and crown our 
efforts with success, the committee recommend an immediate 
appeal to arms."* 

On the 18th of June, an act passed both houses of Con- 
grees, and was approved by the President, declaring " war to 
exist between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- 
land, and the dependencies thereof, and the United States of 
America, and their territories; and that the President be 
authorized to use the whole land and naval force of the Uni- 
ted States to carry the same into effect, and to issue to private 
armed vessels of the United states, commissions, or letters of 
marque and general reprisals, in such form as he shall think 
proper, under the seal of the United States, against the ves- 
sels, goods, and effects of the government of Great Britain, 
and her subjects." This act passed the Senate, yeas 19} 
Nays 13. 

In the House of Representatives — 





New-Hampshire, - 
Massachusetts, - - 


- 


Yeas. 

- 3 - 

- 6 - 


- 


- 


- 


- 


JVayg, 

- 2 

- 8 




Rhode-Island, - - 


. 


- - 


_ 


. 


, 


. 


2 




Vermont, - - - - 


- 


- 3 - 


_ 


_ 


. 


. 


- 1 




Connecticut, - - - 


. 


- - 


_ 


_ 


_ 


_ 


- 7 




New-York, - - - 


_ 


- 3 - 


, 


. 


_ 


. 


- 11 




New-Jersey, - - - 


- 


- 2 - 


- 


- 


- 


- 


- 4 




Pennsylvania, - - 


- 


- 16 - 


. 


_ 


_ 


. 


- 2 




Delaware, - - - . 


. 


- - 


. 


. 


_ 


_ 


- 1 




Maryland, - - - - 


- 


- 6 - 


. 


. 


- 


, 


- 3 




Virginia, 


_ 


- 14 - 


. 


_ 


. 


. 


- 5 




North-Carolina, - 


. 


- 6 - 


_ 


_ 


. 


. 


- 3 




South-Carolina, - 


- 


- 8 - 


. 


. 


. 


. 


- 




Georgia, - - - - _ 
Kentucky, - - - - 


; 


- 3 - 

- 5 - 


- 


- 


- 


- 


- 

- 




Tennessee, - - - 


- 


- 3 - 


. 


_ 


_ 


. 


- 




Ohio, - 


- 


- 1 - 


- 


- 


- 


- 


- 


Maj 


ority, 30. 




79 










49 



* Report of committee of foreign relations. 



IStSi HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR* 31 



In selecting Great Britain as an enemy, when equal cause 
of war existed against her and France, it was considered that 
the latter had no assailable points, no colonies on the conti- 
nent of America, no Islands in the West Indies unoccupied by 
the British, no commerce on the ocean to invite, and reward 
the enterprise of American privateers. A declaration of 
war against her would in effect be a mere empty threat, hav- 
ing no other practical result than to force the country into an 
unequal and dangerous alliance with Great Britain. 

Protest of the Minority. Immediately on the passage of 
the bill, the minority in Congress published an address to their 
constituents, assigning their reasons against the measure. 
In their view, a war with England would necessarily lead to a 
connexion with France, hazardous to the liberties of the 
United States. If war at all was necessary, it ought to be 
with France, as being the first and greatest in her aggres- 
sions. The commerce of France and her dependencies, 
embarrassed as it was with her internal restrictions, was not 
worth contending for. A profitable trade with England, they 
said, might be still carried on, notwithstanding the French 
edicts, as they were unable to enfo)ce them to any extent. 
A considerable portion of the world, to which American com- 
merce might extend, was not embraced in the prohibitions of 
either belligerent. They would therefore suffer the Ameri- 
can merchants to arm in their own defence, and pursue such 
course of trade as their judgment should direct. They con- 
sidered the attempt to conquer Canada as unjust and impo- 
litic in itself, very uncertain in the issue, and promising no good 
in any result. The unprepared state of the country, in their 
view, altogether forbade a declaration of war at present. With- 
eJUt an army, or navy, or funds to create and support either; 
we were about to enter the lists with a power, who would at 
once desolate our frontier and seaboard with impunity. 
What, they ask, " are the United States to gain by this war? 
Will the gratification of some privateersmen compensate th^ 
nation for that sweep of our legitimate commerce, by the 



.r,2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. S 

extended marine of our enemy, which this desperate act in- 
vites ? will Canada compensate the Middle States for New- 
York, or the Western for New- Orleans? Let us not be de- 
ceived. A war of invasion may invite a retort of invasion. 
When we visit the peaceable, and as to us innocent colo- 
nies of Great Britain with the horrors of war, can we be as- 
sured that our own coast will not be visited with like horror? 
At a crisis of the world such as the present, and under im- 
pressions such as these, the undersigned cannot consider the 
war into which the United States have in secret been precipi- 
tated as necessary, or required by any moral duty or politi- 
cal expediency."* 

War Measures. The measures adopted this session prepa- 
ratory to, or in consequence of the declaration of war, were, 
an act prohibiting the exportation of specie, a general embargo 
for ninety days from the 24th of April ; an act authorizing the 
enlistment of twenty-five thousand men, and filling up the 
peace establishment of six thousand; several acts authorizing 
the President to accept the services of fifty thousand volun- 
teers; to call upon the executives of the several states for a 
detachment of one hundred thousand militia, to be apportion^ 
ed to each state according to the militia returns ; to raise seven 
companies of rangers of seventy-two men each for the pro- 
tection of the frontiers from Indian depredations ; several act^ 
establishing the staft' department, providing for the purchase 
of ordnance, camp equipage, military stores, and arms, and 
providing for the equipment and manning the navy. 

Treasury Estimates. The estimates to meet 
these expenses, and for which Congress made 
appropriations, were for the army and fortifica- 
tions $11,466,562 

For the navy 3,404,669 

These, together with the sum of 11,745,388 



* Address of the minority in Congress to their cpnstituents, June 
1812. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 53 

for the support of government, reimbursing the 
public debt, and other purposes, made an ag- 
gregate to be provided for the year 1812 of 26,616,619 

In his annual report, the secretary of the 
treasury stated that the amount of public debt 
due on the 1st of April, 1801, amounted to 79,926,99& 

That of this debt there had been extinguished 
in eleven years 46,022,810 



leaving of the old debt due on the 1st of January, 

1812, 33,904,189 

to which is to be added the debt contracted for 

the purchase of Louisiana, amounting to 1 1,250,000 



making the whole debt of the United States on 

the 1st of Jan. 1812, 45,154,189 

System of Finance for the War. On the 17th of February 
the committee of ways and means reported a system of fi- 
nance adapted to a state of war for three years, the outlines 
of which were to support the war altogether by loans, to es- 
tablish a revenue which should be sufficient to meet the ordi- 
nary expenses of government, and pay the interest on the war 
loans. The extraordinary expenses for which it was neces- 
sary to obtain loans for the present year were estimated at 
eleven millions. A state of war, the committee remark, will 
necessarily very much diminish importations, and the revenue 
derived from them ; to meet this event, as well as to provide 
for the interest on the war loans, they recommend, that the 
impost duties be doubled, foreign tonnage raised to one dollar 
and fifty cents, a dirett tax of three miUions, and an extensive 
system of internal duties and excise. 

The general principles embraced in the report were adopted. 
The direct tax and internal duties were postponed until the 
next session, a loan of eleven millions was authorized at an 
interest not exceeding six per cent, and reimbursable in twelve 
years. In execution of this authority, the secretary of the 



j4 history of the late war. Chap. 2. 

treasury directed subscriptions to be opened at the piincipa! 
banks in the United States on the 1st and 2d days of May. 
To encourage banks to subscribe, it was provided, that the 
money subscribed by any bank, should remain a deposit there- 
in, until called for by the secretary for the use of the United 
States ; and the cashier's certificate that a sum was passed to 
the credit of the United States on his books, entitled the bank 
to that amount in United States stock bearing an interest of 
six per centum. 
On the returns of the subscriptions, it appeared 

that there had been subscribed by banks $4,190,000 

and by individuals 1,928,000 

Leaving a balance of 4,882,000 

of the eleven millions not taken up. 

To supply this deficiency, the President was authorized to 
issue treasury notes, payable in one year, and bearing an in- 
terest of five and two-fifths per cent. These notes were 
receivable in all payments at the treasury, and calculated to 
pass as a currency, and supersede to a certain extent, the 
circulation of bank bills. Congress rose on the 6th of July, 
after a session of eio;ht months. 



-55- 



CHAPTER III. 

Situation of the United States at the Declaration of the War. — Popu- 
lation. — Military and Naval Power. — State of Great Britain. — Indian 
Population ; Character. — Tecumseh. — British and Indian Alliance. — 
Proceedings of the Several States in relation to the War. — Louisi- 
ana. — New- York. — Ohio. — New-Jersey. — Connecticut. — Report of 
tlie Committee to the Legislature of Connecticut. — Massachusetts. — 
Governor Strong's Reasons for not calling out the Militia. — Opinion of 
the Judges of the Supreme Court on the subject — Resolutions of 
Maryland on the subject of the War. — Of Pennsylvania. — Report 
of the Secretary at War on the Powers of Congress relative to the 
Militia. — Proceedings in Canada on the War. — Orders for Governor 
Prevost. — Governor Brock's Address to the Legislature of Upper 
Canada. — Address of the Legislature of Upper Canada to their Con- 
stituents. — Prince Regent's Manifesto. 

Situation of the United States. At the period of the de- 
claration of war, the United States had a population of eight 
millions. Their navy consisted of three frigates of fortj'^-fotir 
guns, four of thirty-six, three of thirty-two, ten small vessels 
of war, and one hundred and sixty-five gun-boats. Their 
regular army amounted to three thousand effective men, and 
their militia to eiglit hundred thousand. 

Of Great Britian. The population 'of the British North 
American colonics bordering on the United States, was esti- 
mated at four hundred thousand, their militia at forty thousand, 
*nd a regular military force of six thousand, stationed at 
Quebec, and other posts in the colonies. The British naval 
establishment at the same period, consisted of two hundred 
and fifty-four ships of the line of seventy-four guns and 
upwards, thirty -five fifties and forty-fours, two hundred and 
forty-seven frigates, and five hundred and six small vessels of 
war.* Great Britain was engaged at the same time in an 

* Steele's list. 



% 

56 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 2. 

expensive and hazardous war with France in the Spanish 
peninsula; and also in assisting Russia in defending herself 
against Bonaparte's invasion. 

Of the Indian Tribes. In the unsettled territory of the 
United States, east of the Mississippi, was an Indian popula- 
tion estimated at one hundred thousand souls,* and capable of 
furnishing ten thousand warriors. Most of the tribes receive 
annual stipends from the American government, in clothing and 
articles of husbandry, in consideration of portions of their land 
which they have ceded to the United States. Trading houses 
and small military posts are established in various parts of 
their territory, for the purpose of preserving them in order, 
and accommodating them with necessaries. Great pains 
have been taken by the government, and private charitable 
Societies, to instruct and bring them to some degree of civili- 
zation. Still this population remain poor, improvident, and 
with little tillage, seeking a precarious subsistence from the 
woods and waters. They are naturally indolent, but when 
roused to action, vindictive, exterminating, and capable of 
enduring the greatest fatigue and deprivations. Their prin- 
ciples of war are to make no prisoners, but to massacre all 
that fall into their power, defenceless women and children, 
the aged and infirm, as well as the soldier in arms. Unable 
to meet an enemy in the open field, their war consists of 
ambuscade and surprise. They will traverse the wilderness 
for hundreds of miles, for the sake of plundering, burning, 
and destroying defenceless villages and their inhabitants. 
By their swiftness in returning, they elude pursuit : and are 
always a terror to the frontier inhabitants. 

Within the British territories bordering on the United States, 
and subject to British influence, was a similar population of 
about one third of the amount. It would have been happy 
and honourable for both nations, if these children of the 

* Morse's Gazetteer. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 57 

forest could have been suffered to remain at peace during the 
contest. But such was not the lot of this people. 

Tecumseh. Tecumseh a celebrated chief of the Shawanee 
tribe, in the centre of the Indian population, an inveterate 
enemy to the Americans, had formed the plan of uniting the 
Indians of the west, north-west, and south, to expel the whites 
from the lands north-westward of the Ohio ; for this pur- 
pose, he had visited the various tribes, held war-councils, and 
inspired them in a high degree with his own feelings. Though 
at this time but about forty-four years old, he had been in 
almost every battle since Harmer's defeat. He bore a con- 
spicuous part in the celebrated battle of Tippecanoe. His 
eloquence was nervous, concise, and impressive ; his words 
few, but always to the purpose. From his talents and exer- 
tions, he had acquired an extensive influence over the sav- 
ages ; and by his attendance at their councils, and persuasive 
eloquence, had brought them into his views.* In this he 
was very much aided by a religious fanaticism, which at 
this time prevailed among them. A set of prophets had risen 
up, who persuaded the Indians that they were sent immedi- 
ately from the Great Spirit to direct them. Tecumseh en- 
listed these impostors into his service, and induced them to 
proclaim to the Indians, that it was the will of the Great Spirit, 
that they should unite in extirpating the whites, that they would 
certainly b» successful, and reposses their country ; and [that 
those who were slain in the attempt, would go to the land of their 
fathers, to a land abounding with fish and game. The character 
and schemes of this savage were exactly suited to the views of 
the British. At the commencement of the war, they took 
him into their service, with the rank and pay of a brigadier 
general ; and formed an alliance with him and his associates, 
the object of which was to extirpate the frontier settlements ; 
and one condition of which was, that no peace should be 

* Brown's views ofthe north-western campaign. 



68 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5, 

made with the Americans, which did not embrace a restoration 
of the lands purchased of the Indians since 1795.* 

Views of the State Governments in relation to the War, 
Although Congress have the power of declaring war, and the 
necessary powers incident thereto ; yet, as the United States 
at this perrod, consisted of eighteen distinct sovereignties, 
independent in every thing, excepting where their rights 
were ceded to the general government by the constitution, 
their co-operation in the war measures was necessary to a 
successful issue of the contest. The authorities of each 
state took the earliest opportunities after the declaration of 
war, to express their sentiments on the measure. 

Louisiana. On the 30th of July, 1812, for the first time 
since the organization of the state government. Governor 
Clairborne met the legislature of Louisiana. In his address, 
on the subject of the war, he remarks, " the United States 
are engaged in a war, to the calamities of which, this section 
of the union is greatly exposed. We know not the moment 
when the enemy may enter the sanctuary of our dwellings, 
and convert to his use the fruits of our industry. A sense of 
common danger should unite every heart, and strengthen 
every arm. If ever war was justifiable, the one which our 
country has declared is that war. If ever a people had cause 
to repose in the confidence of their government, we are that 
people. Union is in itself a host; it is numbers, strength, 
and security. Let every man put himself in armour. When 
justice is the standard, Heaven is the warrior's shield." Sim- 
ilar sentiments were addressed by the governors of Vermont 
and Delaware to their legislatures. 

New-York. On the 3d of November, Governor Tomp- 
kins, in his address to the legislature of New-York, omits any 
remarks on the justice or expediency of the war ; but observes, 
"that notwithstanding differences of opinion may exist, upon 

* Propositions of the British commissiouers at Ghent. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 59 

a variety of local and other subjects, yet in the propriety of 
respecting and yielding our exertions to support the national 
will, constitutionally expressed, and to preserve the rights, 
character, and honour of the American nation unimpaired, 
we must all heartily concur." 

Ohio. To the legislature of the state of Ohio, Governor 
Meigs remarks, " that the people of the United States have 
been driven into a necessary war, to preserve their undenia- 
ble rights. Situate as is the state of Ohio, bordered by hos- 
tile tribes and British possessions, new and weighty duties 
are required. The man who would desert a just cause is 
unworthy to defend it. Let no man shrink from his duty. 
From new emergencies new warriors will arise to defend the 
heritage of their ancestors. To our exertions, let us add a 
reliance on the protecting arm of the God of justice." 

The executives of the states of New-Hampshire, Virginia, 
North and South-Carolina, Georgia, Kentuky, and Tennessee, 
at the first meetings of their legislatures after the declaration 
of war, expressed the same sentiments in the same ener- 
getic language. They spoke the sentiments of a large 
majority of their constituents, and the legislatures reciproca- 
ted them by acts adapted to support the operations of the 
general government. 

New-Jersey. In November 1812, the legislature of New- 
Jersey resolved, " that the war with Great Britain into which 
the present administration have plunged the United States, 
was inexpedient, ill-timed, and most dangerously impolitic, 
sacrificing at once countless blessings, and incurring all the 
hazards, and losses of men and treasure, necessarily resulting 
from a contest with a nation possessing so many means to 
annoy and distress us : 

" That as the war was improvidently commenced, so has 
the conduct of it proved wasteful and disastrous. The 
administration being evidently chargeable with the multiplied 
disasters which have attended our arms, and consigned to 



60 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. S. 

captivity or death so many thousands of brave men without 
{he attainment of a single important object : 

" That we view with inexpressible concern, the course of 
that destructive policy which leads to a connexion with the 
military despotism of France; and if it should so happen, as 
our fears suggest, that a convention or confederacy with that 
power : either exists, or is intended, we do not hesitate to 
declare, that such an event will be considered by us more 
dangerous than the war itself, and as tending in its conse- 
tjuences to the dissolution of the United States : 

•'That so long as it shall be the unhappy fate of our coun- 
try to be involved in war, the people and legislature of New- 
Jersey will perform all their constitutional duties, embracing 
all the just means in their power, to preserve the union, 
defend the state, and the honour of their country: 

" That it is requisite, inquiry should be speedily made into 
the causes of the calamitous events of the war, and that the 
representatives of this State in Congress, be requested by all 
constitutional means in their power to effect this important 
investigation: And, 

" That a war, at the expense of American blood and treasure, 
to protect British subjects on the high seas from their due 
allegiance to their country, would be unjust, and that the abuse 
of this practice in regard to American seamen may be guarded 
against by an arrangement between the two governments, 
and therefore that a negotiation for a treaty of peace should 
be immediately opened." 

Connecticut. In Connecticut the quota of militia required 
by the act of Congress, of the 10th of April, were detached 
and held in readiness. A few days after the declaration of 
war, the executive received a letter from General Dearborn, 
then secretary at war, requiring four companies of the de- 
tached militia to be called into service, and stationed at New- 
London and New-Haven. This requisition, made immedi- 
ately after the declaration of war, when no enemy was on the 
foast, and several months must necessarily elapse before 



1S12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 61 

intelligence of the event could arrive in England, and an 
invading force be prepared and sent to America, appeared to 
the governor to be an assumption of power not warranted by 
the constitution ; he therefore, with the advice of the council, 
refused a compliance; and immediately called a meeting of 
the legislature, to whom the subject was referred. After 
deliberating several days, both houses concurred in sundry 
resolutions, declaring that the people of this state view the 
war as unnecessary, without pretending, say they, to an 
exclusive or superior love of country to what is common to 
their fellow-citizens, or arrogating a pre-eminence in those 
virtues which adorn our history, they yield to none in attach- 
ment to the Union, or veneration of the constitution : we 
are not the apologists of the wrongs of foreign nations : we 
will never deliberate on the choice of a foreign master. The 
aggressions of both nations ought to have been met at the 
outset, by a system of defensive protection commensurate to 
our means, and adapted to the crisis. Other councils pre- 
vailed; and that system of commercial restrictions which 
before had distressed the people of Europe, was extended to 
our country ; we became parties to the continental system of 
the French emperor. That nation of the two is selected 
which is capable of inflicting the greatest injury. In this 
selection we view with the deepest soUcitude a tendency to 
entangle us in an alliance with a nation which has subverted 
every republic in Europe, and whose connexions, wherever 
formed, have been fatal to civil liberty. By the constitution 
the power of declaring war is vested in Congress : they have 
declared war against Great Britain ; however much this 
measure is to be regretted, the general assembly, ever regard- 
ful of their duty to the general government, will perform all 
their obligations resulting from such an act. Their resolu- 
tions, in reference to ordering out the militia, further declare, 
that the only evidence of an invasion which has been fur- 
nished, is to be found in the declaration of war ; and it is now 
claimed by the government of the United States, that when. 



C2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 3. 

war has been declared to exist, the militia of the several states 
are liable to be called into the service of the United States, 
to enter their forts, and there remain upon the presumption 
that the enemy may invade the places which they are 
ordered to garrison. If this claim is well founded it will fol- 
low, that there is no constitutional objection to the militia's 
remaining in service during the war. The war has been 
declared, not because the country was invaded or threatened 
with invason, but to seek redress for injuries complained of, 
by invasion and conquest of the enemy's territories. When 
the militia were demanded, war had been recently declared, 
and was not even then known to the nation from whom the 
invasion was apprehended. The invasion then existing or 
expected, must be presumed to last as long as the war shall 
last; if then the militia can be constitutionally required to 
man the garrisons of the United States, they may continue to 
be so required as long as the danger exists, and to become, 
for all the purposes of carrying on the war within the United 
States, standing armies. And a declaration of war made by 
the administration, and announced to the governors, will sub- 
stantially convert the militia into such armies. The report 
concludes by stating, that should there be an actual invasion 
of any portion of our territory, or should we be threatened with 
invasion, or attack from any enemies, the militia will always 
be prompt and zealous to defend their country. The gov- 
ernment of this state, as it ever has been, so it always will be, 
ready to comply with all the constitutional requisitions of the 
general government. Faithful to itself and posterity, it will 
be faithful to the United States. The conduct of the gov- 
ernor in regard to the militia has been regulated by a strict 
regard to the rights and interests of this state, as well as to the 
constitution of the United States. * 

Massachusetts. Four days after the declaration of war. 
Governor Strong received a requisition from General Dear- 

* Resolutions of the Connecticut Legislatura, August 1812. 



181$. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 63 

born to order into the service of the United States forty-one 
companies of militia for the defence of the ports and harbours 
of Massachusetts, and the harbour of Newport in Rhode- 
Island. The governor, with the advice of his council, refused 
a compliance with this requisition, and communicated his 
views upon the subject to the executives of Connecticut and 
Rhode-Island. In support of his opinion the governor 
remarks, that the act of Congress, authorizing a detachment 
of one hundred thousand militia, enjoins the President to call 
into actual service any part or the whole of said detachment 
in all the exigencies provided by the constitution. From the 
constitution and this act of Congress the President derives 
all his authority to call the militia of the states into actual 
service ; but there was no suggestion from any communica- 
tion he had received, that either Massachusetts or Rhode- 
Island was invaded or in imminent danger of invasion. Gen- 
eral Dearborn seems plainly to have supposed that he was 
authorized by virtue of the power given him by the President, 
to require any part or the whole of the detached militia to be 
called out, and marched to such places in this and other 
states as he may think proper. If this construction of the 
constitution be correct, the President and Congress will be 
able at any time, by declaring war, to call the whole militia of 
the United States into actual service, march them to such 
places as they think proper, and retain them in service as long 
as the war shall continue. 

Opinion of the Judges of the Supreme Court. The consti- 
tution of Massachusetts authorizes the executive to require 
the opinion of the judges of the Supreme Court upon any 
important legal or constitutional questions. On this occa- 
sion the governor submitted two questions to the judges of 
that court. 1st. Whether the commanders in chief of the 
militia of the several states have a right to determine whether 
any of the exigencies contemplated by the constitution of the 
United States exist, so as to require them to place the mihtia, 
or any part of it, in the service of the United States, at the 



64 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 3. 

request of the President, to be commanded by him pursuant 
to acts of Congress. 2d. Whether when either of the exi- 
gCHcies exist authorizing the employment of the mihtia in the 
service of the United States, they can be lawfully commanded 
by any officers but of the militia, except by the President of 
the United States. 

In answer to these questions. Judges Parsons, Sewal, and 
Parker, remark, after reciting the clauses of the constitution 
relating to the subject, that no power is given either to the 
President or Congress, to determine that either of the exigen- 
cies does in fact exist; as this power is not delegated to the 
United States by the constitution, nor prohibited to the states, 
it is reserved to the states respectively, and from the nature 
of the power, must be exercised by those with whom the 
states have intrusted the chief command of the militia. It is 
the duty of the commanders to execute this important trust 
agreeably to the laws of their several states, without reference 
to the laws or officers of the United States, in all cases except 
those specially provided by the federal constitution. They 
must therefore determine when either of the special cases 
exist, obliging them to relinquish this trust, and to render 
themselves and the militia subject to the command of the 
President. 

In answer to the second question, they say that they know 
of no constitutional provision authorizing any officer of the 
army of the United States to command the militia, or any of- 
ficer of the militia to command the army of the United States. 
The union of the militia in the actual service of the United 
States, with the troops of the United States, seems to be a 
case not provided for or contemplated in the constitution. 
Congress may provide laws for the government of the militia 
when in actual service, but to extend this power to the placing 
them under the command of an officer not of the militia, ex- 
cept the President would render nugatory the provision of the 
constitution, that the militia are to have officers appointed by 



Itl4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 65 

the states.* These views of the executive, supported by the 
judiciary, were approved by the legislature of Massachu- 
setts. 

Rhode-Island. The same course of proceedings was adopt- 
ed by the constituted authorities of Rhode-Island. Governor 
Jones, in his address to the legislature, states, that the declara- 
tion of war had placed that state in a very perilous situation, 
having an extensive sea-coast accessible to a naval force. The 
principal part of the United States troops, that were thought 
necessary in time of peace have been withdrawn from the 
state, and the forts and batteries are very illy supplied with 
the munitions of war. 

Maryland. In the house of delegates in the state of Mary- 
land, resolutions were passed, 41 yeas, 21 nays, declaring, 
"that a defensive war ought to be prosecuted and sustained 
at all hazards, and for this that they were prepared at all times 
to undergo any privations, and to devote their lives and for- 
tunes to the public service : 

'' That offensive war is incompatible with the principles of 
republicanism, subversive of the ends of all just government, 
and repugnant to the best interests of the United States : 

"That the declaration of war against Great Britain by a 
small majority of the Congress of the United States, was un- 
wise and impolitic, and if unsuccessful, the grand object con- 
tended for must be abandoned : 

"That the conduct of the governors of Massachusetts, 
Connecticut, and Rhode-Island, respecting the quota of mili- 
tia demanded of them, was constitutional, and merited their 
decided approbation : 

" That a navy is the kind of national defence least danger- 
ous to liberty, and most compatible with the genius, habits, 
and interests of the people of the United States ; and while 
they view with delight and admiration, the heroism of Hull, D<,'- 
catur, and Jones, and their gallant associates, they are furnish 

* Massachusetts reports, vol. 8. 
9 



(^6 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cmap. 3 

ed with additional motives for approbating the policy of aug- 
menting the naval forces of the country." 

In the senate, resolutions of an opposite character were 
passed, approving the war and the conduct of the government, 
and pledging themselves for its support. 

Pennsylvania. Both houses of the legislature of Pennsyl- 
vania resolved, 

" That the declaration of war was the result of solemn 
deliberation, sound wisdom, and imperious necessity : 

" That they contemplate with painful regret the refusal of 
the executive authorities of some of the states to furnish, on 
the President's demand, their quota of militia for the defence 
of the sea-coast, and with confidence expect from the national 
legislature a prompt attention to this alarming and unexpected 
occurrence." 

Militia Question. The constitutional questions on the sub- 
ject of the militia, now brought into view and at issue, between 
the general government and the states of Massachusetts, Con- 
necticut, and Rhode-Island, w^ere of vital importance. Without 
an efficient army, the safety of the nation rested at this period 
on the militia. If they were to be considered as eighteen dis- 
tinct independent bodies of troops acting without concert, and 
subject to be called into service only when the executives of 
the several states deemed it necessary, and their operations 
not subject to the direction of one head, it was evident their 
services could be of very little use in defending the country. 
War having been declared, though against the opinion of a 
considerable minority, it was expected that that minority 
would have so far acquiesced as to have performed all their 
constitutional obligations. The social compact requires this 
from all the citizens of the state. The principal object of 
forming the national constitution was the defence of the coun- 
try ; and its physical force was placed in the hands of the 
general government for that purpose. How then could it be 
doubted but that the power of judging when danger existed 
which required the calling forth of this force, and of directing 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE >VAR. 67 

its operations, was lodged in the same hands ? The national 
authorities viewed the subject with deep interest. The Pres- 
ident, in his message to Congress of the 4th of November, 
1812, on this subject, remarks, that among the incidents to the 
measures of the war, he is constrained to advert to the refusal 
of the governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut to fur- 
nish the required detachments of militia for the defence of 
the maritime frontier. The refusal was founded upon a 
novel and and unfortunate exposition of the constitution re- 
lating to the mihtia. It is obvious, that if the authority of the 
United States to call into service and command the militia for 
the public defence, can be frustrated even in a state of de- 
clared war, and of course under apprehensions of invasion 
preceding war, they are not one nation for the purpose most 
of all requiring it. The public safety will then have no other 
resource than in those large and permanent military establish- 
ments, which are forbidden by the principles of our free 
government, and against the necessity of which the militia 
were meant to be a constitutional bulwark. 

Monroe s Views. In a subsequent communication of the 
acting secretary of war, to a committee of the senate in 
answer to their inquiries upon the subject, Mr. Monroe fully 
and ably explained the views of the executive. The power 
which is given to Congress, he observes, by the people of the 
United States, to provide for calling forth the militia for the 
purposes specified in the constitution, is unconditional. It is 
a complete power vested in the national government, extend- 
ing to all these purposes. If it was dependent on the assent 
of the executives of the individual states it might be entirely 
frustrated. The character of the government would undergo 
an entire and radical change. The state executives might 
deny that the case had occurred which justified the call, and 
withhold the militia fx'om the service of the general govern- 
ment. It was obviously the intention of the framers of the 
constitution, that these powers vested in the general govern- 
ment should be independent of the state authorities, and ade- 



(j8 HISTORY OK THE LATE WAR. CiiAi-. 3. 

quale to the ends proposed. Terms more comprehensive 
than those which have been used cannot well be conceived. 
Congress have a right to provide for caUing forth the militia to 
repel invasion. This right, by fair construction, is an exem- 
plification of the power over the militia, to enable the general 
government to prosecute the war with effect, and not the 
limitations of it by strict construction to the special case of a 
descent of the enemy on any particular part of the territory. 
War exists. The enemy is powerful ; his preparations are 
extensive; we may expect his attacks in many quarters. 
Shall we remain inactive spectators of the danger which sur- 
round us, without making the arrangements suggested by an 
ordinary foresight for our defence? A regular army, in suffi- 
cient extent, does not exist. The militia is the principal 
resource. Is it possible that a free people could thus inten- 
tionally trammel a government which they had created for 
the purpose of sustaining them in their just rank, and in the 
enjoyment of all their rights as a nation against the encroach- 
ments of other powers, more especially just after they had 
experienced that reliance could not be placed on the states 
individually, and that without a general government, thus 
endowed, their beslintercsts would be sacrificed, and even their 
independence rendered insecure. A necessary consequence 
of so complete and absolute a restraint on the power of the 
f^eneral irovernmcnt over the militia, would be to force the 
United States to resort to standing armies for all national 
purposes. A policy so absurd, and fraught with mischief, 
ought not to be imputed to a free people in this enlightened 
Bge. Such a construction of the constitution is repugnant to 
the highest interests of the people, to the unequivocal inten- 
tion of its framers, and to the just and obvious import of the 
instrument itself. If any doubt could exist on this subject on 
general principles, it is taken away by that clause in the con- 
stitution which provides, that Congress shall have power to 
pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execu- 
tion the powers vested in the general government. Thf 



1§1«. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAE. 69 

secretary then proceeds to show, by historical facts, that such 
has been the construction of the constitution by the legislative 
and executive authorities, and acquiesced in by the states 
from its commencement. 

Equally unfounded, he observes, is the other objection of 
the executives, that when the militia are called into the ser- 
vice of the United States, no officer of the regular army or 
other person not a militia officer, except the President of the 
United States in person, has a right to command them. When 
the militia are called into the service of the United States, all 
state authority over them ceases. They constitute a part of 
the national force, and are supported and paid by the nation : 
and their operations directed by the national government. 
The circumstance that the officers of the militia are appointed 
by, and trained under the authority of, the state, has no effect 
on the character and duties of the militia when called into the 
service of the United States. When thus called out, a proper 
proportion of militia officers are called with them ; a colonel 
to a regiment, and a brigadier to a brigade, and a major gen- 
eral to a division : the whole to be received into the pay and 
service of the United States, and subject in their general ope- 
rations to the direction of such officers as the President shall 
appoint. That the President alone has a right to command 
the militia in person, and that no officer of the regular army 
in his absence can take the command, is a construction for 
which the constitution furnishes no pretext. Under the com- 
mander, all the officers of every species of service, regular 
and militia, acting together, take rank by common consent and 
in perfect harmony, according to one of the articles of war, 
which provides that the officers of the regular army shall take 
rank of those of the militia of the same grade, without regard 
to the dates of their commission, and officers of the mihtia of 
every grade take rank of all officers of the regular army of 
inferior grade. When these troops serve together, they con- 
stitute one national force. The idea advanced by the hon- 
ourable judges of Massachusetts, the secretary observes, that 



70 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Ghap. 3. 

where the regular troops and militia act together under the 
command of the President, and he withdraws, there can be no 
chief commander over the whole, but are to be considered as 
independent, all-ed forces, pushes the doctrine of state rights 
much farther than it was ever known to be carried before. It 
is only in the case of powers who are completely independent 
of each other, and who maintain armies, and prosecute war 
against a common enemy, for distinct objects, that this doc- 
trine can apply. It does not apply to the case of one inde- 
pendent power, who takes into its service the troops of 
another ; for then the command is always at the disposal of 
the power making war, and employing such troops. Much 
less does it apply to the case where there is but one power 
and one government; and the troops, whether regulars or 
militia, constitute but one people, and are, in fact, country- 
men, brethren, and friends. The judicious selection of the 
chief commander for any important station is an object of 
high interest to the nation. Success often depends upon it; 
and it is wisely vested in the President by the powers given 
him as chief executive of the United States.* The legislative 
and executive authorities of the general government, and 
of all the states except Massachusetts, Connecticut, and 
Rhode-Island, adopted the principles contained in the secre- 
tary's report respecting the militia, and steadily adhered to 
them through the war. 

Proceedings in Canada. The inhabitants of the Canadas, 
many of whom were emigrants from the United States, and 
were still connected by ties of affection, business, and blood, 
with their citizens, observed with anxiety the progress of the 
dispute between their parent country and the American gov- 
ernment; and when they saw it terminate in a war, the 
avowed object of which was the conquest of their country, 
they were filled with the most alarming apprehensions. The 
executive authorities of the provinces, Britons by birth, and 

*= Report of Secretary of War to Conunittee of Senate. 



181^ HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 71 

deriving their powers from the crown, adopted vigorous 
measures to meet the crisis, and the great body of the inhab- 
itants seconded their efforts. 

Immediately on the declaration of war, the governor gene- 
ral of the Canadas published the following regulations rela- 
tive to American citizens resident in the British colonies. AH 
who shall refuse to take the oath of allegiance, and to bear 
arms, must leave the country, unless they obtain the governor's 
permission to remain for a limited time to settle their affairs. 

All American citizens having visible property and of good 
character, who will take the oath of allegiance, with the excep- 
tion of bearing arms against the United States, shall be 
allowed to remain, subject to leave the province whenever the 
government shall deem it necessary. 

All American subjects being immediate grantees of the 
crown shall be allowed to remain, but must take the general 
oath of allegiance, and consequently be subject to bear arms. 

Any American subject of good character may, if approved 
by a committee of the executive council, be allowed to 
remain, on taking the oath of allegiance before the police 
magistrate, and consenting to bear arms. Soon afterwards 
another order was published, directing all American citizens 
who had not or should not be admitted to take the oath of alle- 
giance and to bear arms, to depart the province before the 
15th of the following October, and all who should be found 
within the province after that time, without having taken such 
oath, were to be treated as 'prisoners of war ; and no per- 
sons whatever were allowed to go from the province to the 
United States, without special license from the governor. 

On receiving intelligence of the declaration of war, Gene- 
ral Brock, governor of Upper Canada, assembled the legis- 
lature of that province on the 22d of July, and addressed 
them, stating their province was invaded by an -enemy, whose 

* Governor Prevofit's orders: 



72 MSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. S, 

avowed object was its entire conquest. That the voice of 
loyahty, as well as interest, called aloud upon every person 
to defend his country. That the militia had obeyed that 
voice, and evinced by the promptitude and loyality of their 
conduct, that they were worthy of the king whom they serve, 
and the constitution they enjoy ; and recommending a revi- 
sion of the militia laws, and the passing of acts for the punish- 
ment of spies and traitors. 

The legislature zealously seconded the views of the gov- 
ernor, aftd at the close of the session published an address 
to their Constituents, observing that the declaration of war 
when first announced, appeared to be an act of such astonish- 
ing.foliy and desperation as to be altogether incredible. It not 
•nly excited the greatest surprise among the inhabitants of 
this province, but also among a great majority of our enemies. 
That a government professing to be the friend of man, and 
the great supporter of his liberty and independence, should 
light up the torch of war against the only nation that stands 
between itself and destruction, exhibited a degree of infatua- 
tion and madness altogether incomprehensible. This, w ar on 
the part of the United States, includes an alliance with the 
French usurper, whose dreadful policy has destroyed all that 
is great and good, venerable and holy, on the continent of 
Europe. With joy we behold the spirit of loyality burst 
forth in all its ancient splendour. The militia, in all parts 
of the province, have volunteered their services with ac- 
clamation, and displayed a degree of energy worthy of 
the British name. Our enemies have indeed boasted that 
they can subdue the country by proclamation ; but it is our 
part to prove to them, that they are mistaken. When men are 
called upon to defend every thing they hold precious, their 
wives and children, their friends and possessions, they 
will not be easily frightened by menaces, or conquered by 
force. The population are decidedly hostile, and the few 
who may be otherwise inclined, will find it their safety and 
interest to be faithful. If there be any person so base an«4 



1«JS. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 73 

degenerate as to join the enemy, after having taken the oath 
of allegiance, he forfeits not only his property, but his life. 
The British government never will make peace with the 
American states without a full and ample indemnification, for 
all the depredations committed in this country. Nor will we 
permit a single traitor ever to return. Let those who have 
come from the neighbouring states consider this well, and 
assure themselves that as we are eager to reward loyality, so 
we shall not be slow to punish treachery.* 

British Manifesto. On the 10th of January, 1813, the 
prince regent published a declaration, justifying the conduct 
of Great Britain towards the United States. The manifesto 
attempts to prove the French to be the first aggressors on 
neutral rights, and that the British orders in council are justi- 
fiable on the principles of retaliation : that the French 
decrees have never been repealed : that the course the Amer- 
ican government has pursued towards the belligerents, has 
been that of hostility towards Great Britain, and partiality 
towards France : that America has in every instance seconded 
the views, and favoured the projects of the French govern- 
ment against England. The right of impressment, the man- 
ifesto maintains, results necessarily from the doctrine of natu- 
ral allegiance : that no sufficient substitute has been offered on 
the part of America, which should secure to the British the 
services of her native subjects : that this practice cannot be 
dispensed with, without exposing to danger the foundation of 
their maritime strength. 

'' "The real origin of the present contest," the manifesto con- 
cludes, " is to be found in the spirit which has long unhappily 
actuated the councils of the United States ; their marked 
partiahty in palliating and assisting the aggressive tyranny of 
France, their systematic endeavours to inflame their people 
against the defensive means of Great Britain, their ungene- 
rous conduct towards Spain, the intimate ally of Great Britain,- 

* Address of the legislature of Upper Canada to their constituents. 

10 



I'fc HiSTdRY Of THE DATE WAK. Chap. 3- 

and their unworthy desertion of the cause of other neutral 
nations. «It is through the prevalence of such councils that 
America has been associated in policy with France, and com- 
mitted in war against Great Britain. And under, Avhat con- 
duct, on the part of France, has the government of the United 
States lent itself to (he enemy ? The contemptuous violation 
of the commercial treaty of 1800; the treacherous seizure 
of American vessels and cargoes in all harbours subject to 
the control of the French arms ; the tyrannical principles of 
the Berlin and Milan decrees, and the confiscations under 
them; the subsequent condemnation under the Rambouillet 
decree antedated or concealed to render it more effectual ; the 
French commercial regulations which render the traffic of the 
United States with France almost illusory ; the burning of 
their merchant ships at sea long after the repeal of the French 
decrees. All these acts of violence on the part of France, 
produce from the government of the United States only such 
complaints as end in acquiescence and submission, or are 
accom{)anicd by suggestions for enabling France to give the 
semblance of a legal form to her usurpations, by converting 
them into municipal regulations. This disposition of the gov- 
ernment of the United Sta'.os, this complete subserviency to 
the ruler of France, this hostile temper towards Great Britain, 
are evident in almost every page of the official correspon- 
dence of the American with the French government. Against 
this course of conduct, the real cause of the present war, the 
prince regent solemnly protests. While contending against 
France, in defence not only of the liberties of Great Britain, 
but of the world, his royal highness was entitled to look out 
for a far different result. From their common origin, from theh' 
common interests, and from their professed principles of free- 
dom and independence, the United States were the last power 
in which Great Britain could have expected to find a willing 
instrument and abettor of French tyranny. Disappointed in 
this, his just expectation, the prince regent will still pursue the 
policy which the British government has so long and invaria- 



i«12. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 75 

biy maintained, in repelling injustice, and supporting the gen- 
eral rights of nations. And under the favour of Providence, 
relying on the justice of his cause, and the tried loyality and 
firmness of the British nation, his royal highness confidently 
looks forward to a successful issue of the contest in which he 
has thus been impelled most reluctantly to engage."* 

With these views of their respective claims, the parties 
staked their rights on the issue of the contest. 

* Prince regent's manifesto, January 1813, 



CHAPTER IV. 

Plan of Military Operations for the Campaign of 1812 — General Hull 
appointed to the Command of the Northern Army. — Rendezvous atUr- 
banna.— Their March to the Rapids of the Miami.— A Sloop, with Gen. 
Hull's Bag^gage and Papers and the Hospital Stores, taken at Maiden. 
— Arrival of the Army at Detroit. — Invasion of Canada.— Gen. Hull's 
Proclamation. — Head-Quarters at Sandwich. — Col. M' Arthur's Expe- 
dition to the Thames. — Col. Cass proceeds to the River Auxlanards. — 
Main Body return to Detroit. — Capt. Brush arrives at the River Ra- 
sin with Supplies. — Major Vanhorn detached to escort him. — Surpriz- 
ed by an Ambuscade and defeated. — Col. Miller detached to the same 
place. — Battle of Mi^uago. — Col. Miller returns. — Cols. M'Arther 
and Cass detached to the same place; ordered to return. — General 
Brock's Address to the Canadians. — Arrives with Reinforcements at 
Maiden. — Bombards the Fort from the opposite Bank.— Crosses the 
River and advances to assault the Fort. — Gen. Hull capitulates. — 
American Forces and Property taken. — British Forces. — Court Mar- 
tial ordered. — Charges and Specifications against Gen. Hull. — His 
Defence. — Sentence of the Court 

Plan of the Campaign o/" 1812. The plan of military ope- 
rations at the commencement of the war, on the part of the 
United States, was to garrison and defend the sea-board prin- 
cipally by occasional calls of the neighbouring militia, aided 
by a few regular troops, the whole to be under the command 
of generals of the regular army, stationed at the most impor- 
tant points. With the remaining regular forces, together with 
such volunteers as could be procured, and the militia, to at- 
tack the Bristish posts in Upper Canada, and subdue them. 
This province borders on the United States from the neigh- 
bourhood of Montreal westerly to an indefinite extent, and is 
separated from them by the waters of the St. Lawrence and 
the lakes, to the western extremity of the Lake of the Woods ; 
along the shores of the lakes, and banks of the rivers, com- 



78 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 4. 

municating with them, is a fine tract of country, containing one 
hundred thousand inhabitants, principally emigrants from the 
United States, who have removed there since the war of the 
revolution. Northerly and westerly of these settlements is 
an immense wilderness thinly inhabited by Indians. The 
settlement of white inhabitants extends westward as far as 
the Detroit river, which conveys the waters of lake Huron to 
lake Erie. At the mouth of this river is the villiage of Am- 
herstburgh, furnishing one of the best harbours on the lake ; 
and the military post of Maiden, from whence the Indians of 
the north and west are supplied with goods, arms, and ammu- 
nition, and encouraged in acts of hostility against the frontier 
inhabitants of the United States. To break up this establish- 
ment, and subdue the province, was the first object of the 
military operations on the Canada border. It was confidently 
expected that the inhabitants needed only a demonstration oi 
a respectable military force, and an assurance of protection, 
to induce them to revolt fron the British, and join the Ameri- 
can standard. This province being conquered, it was de- 
signed to push eastward to Montreal. 

HuWs Expedition. With these views, William Hull, gov- 
ernor of the Michigan territory had been appointed a briga- 
dier general, and on the 25th of May took command of the 
north-western troops destined for the operations on Canada. 
In the beginning of June he rendezvoused at Urbanna, in the 
state of Ohio. Preparatory to his march to Detroit, his force 
consisted of five hundred regulars, and twelve hundred Ohio 
volunteers, under the command of Cols. M'Arthur and Cass. 
The distance from Urbanna to Detroit is one hundred and 
ninety miles, the greater part of the way through a trackless 
wilderness, uninhabited except by a few hostile Indians. 
Their rout lay in a north-westerly direction across the high- 
lands which divide the waters of lake Erie from the Ohio, and 
along the Miami of the lake. The morasses and swamps 
that lay in their rout, and the general ruggedness of the way, 
presented many difficulties. But the ardonr of fresh troops 



m^' HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. -79 

eager for conquest, overcame them, and without any serious 
losses they arrived on the last of June at the rapids of the 
Miami, a distance of one hundred and twenty miles from 
Urbanna. The supplies for the army were to be transported 
the greater part of this distance on pack-horses subject to the 
attacks of the neighbouring savages. From Miami to Detroit 
is navigable water ; here the army rested several days, and 
General Hull procured a sloop and a boat, and put his bag- 
gage, containing his commission and instructions from the war 
department, with the baggage of most of the officers and the 
hospital stores on board the sloop, and the sick on board the 
boat for Detroit. The ship channel being on the Canada 
side, the sloop necessarily passed under the guns of Maiden, 
and being unarmed, was taken without resistance. This cap- 
ture was a serious loss to the Americans, as the hospital stores 
could not be seasonably supplied, and of important benefit to 
the British, as it informed them of the strength, views, and 
objects of their enemy. The boat kept under the western 
shore and arrived in safety. The army now disencumbered 
of their sick and baggage, proceeded along the margin of 
the lake and river to Detroit, a distance of seventy miles* 

Detroit. This is an ancient French settlement, on the west 
bank of Detroit river, eighteen miles. from its entrance 
into lake Erie, and nine from the out-let of lake St. Clair. 
It contains about one thousand inhabitants and is the capital 
of the Michigan territory, the whole of which contains about 
six thousand French and American settlers, along the banks 
of the Detroit, Huron, and Raisin rivers, and along the shores 
of lakes Erie and Huron. Detroit is one of the most ancient 
military posts in the western country. It was early establish- 
ed by the French as a check upon the surrounding Indians, 
and had been repaired and strengthened by the Americans. 
The military posts of Mackinaw and fort Dearborne were 
also within the hmits of Gen. Hull's command. 

Mackinaw. The post of Mackinaw is situated upon the 
island of Michilimackinac in the straits between lake Hu- 



80 



HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 4. 



ron and Michigan, and commands that passage. On this island 
is the largest settlement in the Michigan territory, except De- 
troit. On the 17th of July the garrison was invested by a 
party of Canadians and Indians, consisting of one thousand 
men from St. Josephs, a British post at the entrance of lake 
Superior. The inhabitants had taken refuge in the fort at 
the appearance of the enemy. The garrison at this time 
consisted only of a company of sixty men, under the com- 
mand of Capt. Hanks; they had received no reinforcements, 
dor any information of the declaration of war, and were 
wholly unprepared to resist such a force. They surrendered 
on a ^stipulation that the lives of the garrison and inhabitants 
should be spared.* The capture of this post, and the supe- 
riority of the British on the western lakes gave them the com- 
plete control of the Indians, and enabled them to bring down 
upon Detroit and the southern parts of the Michigan territory 
as many Indian forces as they chose. 

Fort Dearborne. Fort Dearborne is at the mouth of the 
Chicago river, on the south-western border of lake Michi- 
gan, on a territory of six miles square, purchased of the Pot- 
tawottamies for the purpose of establishing a trading factory 
and a mihtary post. On this territory was a considerable 
settlement of whits, inhabitants. This post at the declaration 
of war was garrisoned by a company of sixty men. Consid- 
erinsits remote situation, General Hull deemed it untenable^ 
and had given orders to the commandant, Captain Heald, to 
evacuate it and repair to Detroit. To accomplish this, the 
garrison would have to traverse two hundred miles of wilder- 
ness, inhabited only by hostile savages. The Indians having 
obtained notice that the fort was about to be abandoned, came 
in in great numbers, and demanded the goods and provisions 
in store. Captain Heald after making a distribution among 
them, on the 15th of August left the fort with fifty-four regu- 
lars, twelve militia and twenty-five women and children, and 



Captain Hanky's report 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 81 

proceeded along the beach about two miles, when he was 
surrounded and attacked by four hundred Indians. He 
immediately marched up the bank, and charged those in 
front, who gave way, and joined the flanks. The Indians got 
possession of all the horses, baggage, and provisions, belong- 
ing to the company. Captain Heald, after having lost in the 
action thirty-eight men, and fourteen women and children, 
surrendered upon the assurance that the lives of the remain- 
der should be spared. The Indians took their prisoners 
back to their encampment near the fort, distributed the sur- 
vivors among the tribes, and set fire to the fort. Captaizi 
Heald and his wife were severely wounded; after their 
recovery they were permitted to proceed to Michillimacki- 
nac. 

HuWs Invasion, General Hull, on his arrival at Detroit 
was joined by the Michigan mihtia ; and depending on tlie 
co-operation of General Dearborn on the Niagara frontier, 
on the 1 2th of July made his descent on Canada. He crossed 
the river about three miles below the town, and established 
his head quarters at Sandwich, a village on the opposite bank. 
Here he issued a proclamation offering fraternity, peace, and 
liberty, to the Canadians who would remain at home, and 
threatening utter extermination to such as should be found in 
arms associated with the Indians : and declaring that he com- 
manded a force sufficient to look down all opposition, but 
which was only the van of a much greater. * 

Induced by this proclamation and the appearance of a 
respectable army on their territory, several hundred Canadian 
militia deserted the British standard, and joined the Ameri- 
cans, or returned to their homes under General Hull's protec- 
tion. 

Colonel M' Arthur, w^ith a detachment of the Ohio militia, 
proceeded along the banks of the Thames, a river which falls 
into lake St. Clair from the east, and on the borders of which 



* General Hull's proclamation. 
II 



go HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap- 4. 

is a considerable settlement of white inhabitants. Here he 
found and captured a large quantity of flour, blankets, and 
ammunition, destined for the garrison at Maiden, and returned 
to head-quarters. The British, aware of the objects of Hull, 
had collected considerable reinforcements of Canadian 
militia and Indians, and strengthened their garrison. This 
post was only twelve miles below Hull's encampment. Had 
the army, on their entrance into Canada, been led immedi- 
ately against it, there is htde dOubt but it would have been 
elisily taken •, but every day's delay gave the enemy strength. 
Colonel Cass, with a detachment of three hundred men, was 
clespatchedfrom Sandwich to reconnoitre the post ; on arriving 
at the river Aux Canerds, four miles from Maiden, they found 
the bridge in possession of the British; and, after some skir- 
mishing, returned. The planks of the bridge were then taken 
up by the British, and a breast-work formed of them on the 
left bank. Excepting these expeditions of trifling conse- 
quence, General Hull remained inactive in his camp at Sand- 
wich until the 8th of August, when he gave orders for the 
main body to recross the river, and retire to Detroit. A 
detachment of three hundred men, under the command of 
Major Denny of the Ohio volunteers, remained in possession 
of Sandwich until the 12th, when they abandoned it and 
rejoined the main body. Nothing could exceed the chagrin 
and disappointment of the troops on quitting Canada. They 
had bet^n taught to believe it to be an easy conquest. Suc- 
cess had attended their operations so far as they had been 
called to act, and now the object was given up without an 
eftbrt. The unhappy Canadians, who had been induced by 
the general's proclamation to accept his protection, were 
abandoned to the vengeance of the British arms. 

By the exertions of the governor of Ohio, a reinforcement 
of one hundred and fifty volunteers from that state, with 
large supplies of provisions, under the command of Captain 
Brush, had been ordered to Detroit. This corps arrived at 
the river Raisin, thirty-six miles below, the last of July. Here 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE VV^AR. 33 

Captain Brush received orders from General Hull, to fortify 
himself, and remain until he should receive an escort from 
his camp. On the 4th of August, Major Vanhorn, with tw3 
hundred Ohio militia, was ordered on this service. At 
Brownstown, opposite Maiden, a large body of Indians had 
formed an ambuscade, and the detachment receiving an 
unexpected and heavy fire, broke and retreated in disorder. 
Seventeen, among whom were seven officers, were killed, and 
thirty wounded. 

On the 8th, six hundred men, under Colonel Miller, were 
detached for the same object. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon 
of the ninth, the van of the detachment commanded by Cap- 
tain SneUing, had advanced to Maguago, fourteen miles from 
Detroit, and were here attacked by an extensive line of 
British and Indians, defended by a breast-work of logs. 
Captain Snelling gallantly maintained his position until Colo- 
nel Miller formed his line, when he gave a general discharge 
of musketry, and charged them with the bayonet. The whole 
line of British and Indians gave way and commenced a 
retreat. They were pursued in a most vigorous manner 
for two miles 5 and the pursuit discontinued only on account 
of the fatigue of the troops and the apprehensions of an 
ambuscade in the night. The Indians on the left, under the 
command of Tecumseh, fought with great obstinacy, and 
retired only at the point of the bayonet. The American loss 
was eighteen killed, and fifty-eight wounded. Among the 
wounded were Captain Baker of the 1st regiment, and Lieu- 
tenants Larrabee and Peters of the 4th. The detachment on 
the 10th returned to Detroit, without effecting the object. 

Governor Brookes Proclamation. In the mean time, Gov- 
ernor Brock, hearing of the invasion of his province, and the 
proclamation of General Hull, prorogued the parliament of 
Upper Canada, then convened at York, and issued a counter 
address to the inhabitants, informing them that the unprovoked 
declaration of war had been immediately followed by the actuaf 
invasion tif the province, in a remote frontier of the western 



84 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 4. 

district, by a detachment of the armed force of the United 
States. That the commanding officer of that detachment 
had thought proper to invite his majesty's subjects, not 
merely to a quiet and unresisting submission, but insults them 
with a call to seek voluntarily the protection of his govern- 
ment. Without condescending to repeat the illiberal epithets 
bestowed by the author of that appeal on the administration 
of his majesty's government, the general remarks, " let 
every inhabitant of the province seek the refutation of the 
slander in a review of his own circumstances. Where is the 
Canadian who can truly affirm, that he has been injured in 
his person, liberty, or property ? Where is to be found in any 
part of the world, a growth so rapid in wealth as this colony 
exhibits ? Settled not thirty years since by a band of vete- 
rans, exiled from their former possessions on account of their 
loyalty, not a descendant of that brave people is to be found, 
who, under the fostering liberality of his sovereign, has not 
acquired property and means of enjoyment superior to his 
ancestors '! 

This prosperity could not have been attained, had not the 
maritime power of the mother country secured to its colonists 
a safe access to every market where the produce of their 
labour was in demand. The inmiediate consequence of a sep- 
aration from Great Britain, must be the loss of this inestimable 
advantage. And what is oftered in exchange ? To become 
a territory of the United States, and share with them that 
exclusion from the ocean, which the policy of their govern- 
ment enforces. 

Every Canadian freeholder is, by deliberative choice, bound 
by the most solemn oaths to defend the monarchy, as well as 
his own property. To shrink from that engagement is trea- 
son not to be forgiven. Let no man suppose, that if in this 
unexpected struggle, his majesty's arms should be compelled 
to yield to an overwhelming force, the province will be event- 
ually abandoned. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 35 

The endeared relations of its first settlers, the intrinsic value 
of its commerce, and the pretensions of its powerful rival to 
repossess the Canadas, are pledges that no peace will be 
established with the United States, of which the restoration of 
these provinces does not make the most prominent condition. 

Be not dismayed at the unjustifiable threat, that no quarter 
should be given, should an Indian appear in the ranks. The 
brave bands of natives which inhabit this colony, were for like 
his majesty's subjects, punished for their zeal and fidelity, by 
the loss of their possessions in the late colonies, and rewarded 
by his majesty with lands of superior value in this province. 
The faith of the British government has.neveryetbeen violated. 
They feel that the soil they inherit is to them and their pos- 
terity, protected from the base arts so frequently devised to 
overreach their simplicity. By what new principle are they 
to be prevented fi-om defending their property ? If their war- 
fare, from being different from that of white people, is more 
terrific to the enemy ; let him retrace his steps. They seek 
him not, and cannot expect to find women and children in an 
invading army. The Indians are men, and have equal rights 
with all other men to defend themselves and their property 
when invaded ; more especially when they find in the ene- 
my's camp, a ferocious and mortal foe, using the same warfare, 
which the American commander affects to despise. This in- 
consistent and unjustifiable threat of refusing quarter, for such 
cause as being found in arms with a brother sufferer in defence 
of invaded rights, must be exercised with the certain assurance 
of retaliation, not only in the limited operations of the war in 
this part of the king's dominions, but in every quarter of the 
globe. Great Britain will consider the execution of this inhu- 
man threat, as deliberate murder, for which every subject of 
the oflending power must make expiation.* 

With this address the spirit of the Canadians was roused to 
action, and General Brock pressed on to Maiden, with rein- 

* Governor Brock's address to the Canadians. 



8G HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Ghap. 4. 

forcements constantly increasing, to meet the American gen- 
eral in the field, and convince him that he was as much his 
superior in deeds, as in proclamations. Governor Brock had 
been educated in arms, and had sustained a distinguished rank 
and character in the army of Egypt. He arrived at Maiden 
with reinforcements in high spirits on the 13th, just as the 
American troops retired from the Canadian shore, dispirited, 
disappointed, and disgusted with their commander. On the 
15th, he planted batteries on the bank of the river opposite 
the fortress of Detroit, and sent a summons to the American 
general to surrender, stating that he should otherwise be un- 
able to restrain the fury of the savages. This was answered 
by a spirited refusal, and a declaration that the fort and town 
would be defended to the last extremity. The firing from the 
batteries and the fort immediately commenced, and continued 
with little interruption, and without much effect, until the next 
day. The alarm and consternation of General Hull had now 
become extreme, and appeared in a series of irregular and 
incoherent measures. On the 12th, the field officers suspect- 
ing the general intended a surrender of the fort, had deter- 
mined on his arrest. This was prevented in consequence of 
Cols. M'Arthur and Cass, two very active, intelligent, and 
spirited officers, being detached on the the 1 3th with four hun- 
dred men, on a third expedition to the river Raisin. They 
advanced about fourteen miles, when on the 15th they receiv- 
ed orders to return. At daylight on the 1 6th, the British troops 
commenced crossing the river at Spring Wells, three miles 
below the town, under cover of two ships of war. They ac- 
complished their landing by seven o'clock without opposition, 
and took up their line of march in close columns of platoons, 
twelve in front, towards the fort along the bank of the river. 
The fourth regiment of United States troops was stationed in 
the fort ; the Ohio volunteers and a part of the Michigan 
militia behind the pickets, in a situation where the whole flank of 
the enemy would have been exposed. The residue of the mili- 
tia were in the upper part of the town to resist the incursions 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 87 

of the savages. Two twenty-four pounders loaded with grape 
were posted on a commanding eminence ready to sweep the 
advancing columns. Cols. M' Arthur and Cass had arrived 
within view of Detroit ready to act on the rear of the enemy. 
In this situation the troops waited in eager expectation the ad- 
vance of the British, anticipating a brilliant victory. 

Surrender of Detroit. When the head of the British col- 
umns had advanced within five hundred yards of the line, and 
the artillery ready to sweep their ranks, orders were given for 
the troops to retire into the fort, and for the artillery not to 
fire. A white flag was hoisted. A British officer rode up to 
inquire the cause. A communication passed between the 
commanding generals which soon ended in a capitulation.* 
The fortress of Detroit, with all the public stores, property, and 
documents of every kind, were surrendered. The troops were 
made prisoners of war. The detachment under M' Arthur 
and Cass, and the troops at the river Raisin, were included in 
the capitulation. On the 17th, General Brock despatched a 
flag to Captain Brush with the terms. He immediately called 
a council of his officers, who determined that they were not 
bound by the capitulation, and advised to break up the camp 
and return. In pursuance of their advice. Captain Brush 
immediately broke up his camp, took with him what public 
stores and property he could, and commenced his retreat to 
Ohio. The Michigan militia who had not joined the army 
were paroled, on condition of not serving during the present 
war. No provision was made for the unfortunate Canadians 
who had joined General Hull, or accepted his protection. They 
were left exposed to suffer as traitors; nine were executed at 
one time, and several more afterwards. General Hull in this 
measure took counsel only from his own fears. He held no 
council of war, knowing that all his officers would be opposed 
to the surrender. In his official report he expressly exempts 
them from any share in the disgraceful transaction. 

* Col. Cass' letter to the secretary of war. 



88 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 4 

The British force at Maiden at the time General Hull en- 
tered Canada, and until the 12ih of August, consisted of one 
hundred regular troops, four hundred Canadian militia, and 
several hundred Indians. After the arrival of General Brock 
with his reinforcements, the whole amounted to three hundred 
and thirty regulars, four hundred militia, and six hundred In- 
dians. The troops surrendered by General Hull amounted 
to twenty-five hundred, consisting of two troops of cavalry, 
one company of artillery, the fourth United States regiment, 
and detachments from the first and third ; three regiments of 
Ohio volunteers, and one regiment of Michigan militia, 
amounting to about twelve hundred. By this capitulation the 
British obtained 2500 muskets stacked on the esplanade at 
the time of the surrender, 450 brought in by the detachment 
under M' Arthur and Cass, 700 received from the Michigan 
militia, thirty-three pieces of ordnance, one thousand rounds of 
fixed ammunition, 200 tons of ball, 200 cartridges ui grape shot, 
75,000 musket catridges made up, 24 rounds in the possession 
of each man, GO barrels of gut>powder, 150 tons of lead, 
provisions for the army for 25 days in the fort, and a large 
escort at the river Raisin.* 

An event so disgraceful to the American arms did not fail 
to excite universal indignation. When M' Arthur's sword was 
demanded, he indignantly broke it, tore the epaulets from his 
shoulders, and threw himself on the ground. As soon as 
General Hull was exchanged, a court martial was ordered 
upon his conduct, and held at Albany on the 3d of January 
1814. 

General HuWs Trial. Major General Henry Dearborn, 
President ; members, Brigadier Generals Bloomfield, Parker, 
and Covington. Colonels Fenwick, Carbenu y, and Irvine. 
Lieutenant Colonels Dennis, Conner, Davis, Scott, and Stew- 
art. Alexander J. Dallas, special judge advocate. 

* Report of the British quarter-master. 



18J2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. .89 

Charges. The charges filed against him were, 

I. Treason. 

II. Cowardice. 

III. Neglect of duty and unofficerlike conduct, from the 
9th of April to the 16th of August, 1812. 

The facts adduced in support of the first charge, were, 
that on the 1st July, at the foot of the rapids of the Miamij 
he put on board an unarmed vessel his baggage, and papers, 
containing his instructions and correspondence with the secre- 
tary of war, and the muster-rolls of the army, and the sick 
and hospital stores, and sent her within reach of the British 
fortress at Maiden, with a traitorous design of having her 
taken by the enemy, and in consequence thereof she was 
captured. 

That he traitorously neglected and refused to attack Maiden, 
when it might have been easily taken ; and abandoned his 
post at Sandwich, and traitorously surrendered Detroit when 
it might and ought to have been defended, with a view to 
betray the United States, and aid and comfort the enemy. 

The facts adduced in support of the second charge, were, 
that he neglected to attack Maiden, and quitted his position, 
at Sandwich, without any just cause. 

That during the term of the bombardment of the fort on 
the 15th of August, he manifested great fear and apprehension 
of personal danger, by a course of conduct and conversation 
evincing personal alarm, agitation of mind, -and deprivation of 
judgment ; and by timid and cowardly actions and expressions 
in the presence of the officers and soldiers, in the streets of 
the town, and in the fortress of Detroit, gave a fatal en 
couragement to the enemy, and afforded a most pernicious 
example to the American troops. 

That the same course of conduct was pursued by him after 
the British landed at Spring Wells. That he neglected to 
reconnoitre and attack the enemy on their approach to the 
fort ; avoided all personal danger ; withdrew from his troops 
to a place of safety ; issued incoherent and contradictory or 



^0 HISTORY OF TiJE LATE WAR. Chap. 4. 

ders ; and surrendered the army, fortress, town, and territory, 
to an inferior force, and without any justifiable cause. 

The same facts were adduced in support of the third charge, 
as of the two others; and in addition to them, that he neglected 
to inspect, review, and train the army, and to prepare in due 
form and time, and communicate to his troops, an order of 
battle ; that he neglected to put the works of the fort in re- 
pair, and to put the artillery in order : 

That he neglected to keep open a communication between 
Detroit and the river Raisin, and sent out detachments mani- 
festly insufficient for the object, and neglected to supply them 
with provisions to enable them to accomplish the service on 
which they were detached. 

Defence. On the charge of treason, General Hull' objected 
to the jurisdiction of the court, as being a matter of civil 
cognizance only. 

On the other charges his defence was, his general good cha- 
racter and conduct as an officer in the revolutionary army, 
and since. That the means furnished him for this expedition 
were inadequte to the attainment of the object ; the British 
having the command of the lake, no supplies could be obtain- 
ed but only on pack-horses, and through a wilderness of two 
hundred miles in extent from the settled parts of the state of 
Ohio. That the fall of Michillimackinac, for which he was 
fiot answerable, had enabled the British to bring down upon 
him the whole Indian force of the north-west, and cut off all 
communication between him and his resources ; that no rein- 
forcements or supplies, for which he had repeatedly sent, had 
reached, or could reach him ; that the garrison had but a few 
days provisions on hand, and that a capitulation was neces- 
sary, to save them and the inhabitants of the territory from 
massacre. 

On the 26th of March, after a session, with little interrup- 
tion, of eighty days, the court came to a final result. 

Sentence.. On the first charge, they determined they had 
not jurisdiction; but remark, that the evidence upon the sub- 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 91 

iect having been publicly given, they deem it profjjer in justice 
to the accused to say, that they do not believe from any 
thing that has appeared before them, that he has committed 
treason against the United States. 

Most of the facts alleged in support of the other charges 
they find to be proved; those which they do not find proved 
they particularly point out ; they find his defence unsupport- 
ed, except as to his good character in the revolutionary war, 
and therefore find him guilty of the second and third charges, 
and sentence him to be shot to death ; two thirds of the court 
concurring in the sentence. In consideration of his revolu- 
tionary services and his advanced age, they earnestly recom- 
mend him to the mercy of the executive. The President 
approved the sentence, remitted the execution, and ordered 
his name to be stricken from the rolls of the army.* 

* Proceedings of the Court Martial on General Hull. 

€teneral Hull has recently published a memoir of his campaign, con- 
taining an elaborate defence of his conduct, and endeavouring to throw 
the blame on the administration and General Dearborn. He imputes 
his disasters to an unauthorized armistice agreed to by that General, 
and to his inactivity on the Niagara frontier, by means of which Gen- 
eral Brock was enabled to reinforce Maiden : — to the want of a navy 
on the lake ; and to a general deficiency of means. In justification of 
liis proclamation, for which he has been so mucli censured, he produces 
a letter from the secretary of war : soon after it was received at Wash- 
ington, highly approving his conduct, and not censuring the proclama- 
tion. Statements coming so long after the transactions, and from a 
person so deeply interested, it is obvious, must be received with greal 
caution, any further than they are supported by documentary testimony. 
He has produced a variety of evidence of this nature, which, though it 
falls far short of a justification, has a tendency to divide the blame. He 
complains much of the appointment of an officer to proceed in the court 
martial, whose conduct was so deeply implicated in the same transaction, 
and imputes it to a combination between the administration, and that 
officer to give him up as a sacrifice to their own reputation. Though 
he utterly fails of producing any evidence of such a combination, yet it 
was greatly to have been wished, that a president of that court wha 
was to pronounce upon the character and life of the general, might have 
been selected, against whom no such suspicions could exist. 



CHAPTER V. 

Proceedings of the Western States in consequence of Hull's Defeat. — 
Army under General Harrison. — Defence of Fort Harrison. — Gen- 
eral Hopkins's Expedition against the Kickapoo Town ; against 
the Prophet's Town. — Progress of the Army under General Harri- 
son towards the Miami Rapids. — Fort Wayne. — Fort Defiance. — 
General Tupper's Expedition to the Rapids. — Colonel Campbell's 
Expedition against the Messessiwena Towns. — Battle at the River 
Raisin. — Defeat and Capture of General Winchester's Army. — Cru- 
elties of the British and Indians Description of the Niagara Fron- 
tier. — Proceedings of General Van Rensselaer. — Battle of Queens- 
ton. — Militia refuse to cross the River. — The American Army cap- 
tured. — General Smyth's Proclamations; attempts to pass into 
Canada, and fails. — Duel between Generals Smyth and Porter. — 
Proceedings of the Arm}^ of the North. — Causes of the Failure of the 
Campaign of 1812. 

Alarm of the Western States. The surrender of the north- 
western army, of the town and fortress of Detroit, of the 
military posts of the north-west, and of the whole territory of 
Michigan, within sixty days after the declaration of war, 
were subjects of universal astonishment and alarm. The 
great body of Indians in the western country, ever ready to 
join the successful joarty, were now flocking to the British 
standard, and preparing to renew their ravages with increased 
severity. The slate of Ohio, and the territories of Indiana 
and Illinois, were the most immediately exposed. Large 
numbers of Indians were contained within their borders, who, 
in connexion with those without, would now be induced to 
join the enemy. Had the army under General Hull been 
successful, and the establishment at Maiden broken up, the 
savages deprived of their supplies, would have been obliged to 
remain neutral, or have been awed into submission. Now they 
were abundantly furnished, and had every inducement held 



94 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. 

out to them to increase their depredations. The alarm how- 
ever that these events excited only served to stimulate to 
increased exertions, and the Indians were ultimately doomed 
to suffer the injuries which they and their allies had calculated 
to inflict on the border inhabitants of the United States. 

Exertions. By the spirited exertions of the governors of 
Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, an army of volun- 
teers was assembled in a few weeks, amounting to eight 
thousand men. Indeed, many more oftered than could be 
received into service. These were placed under the com- 
mand of General Harrison, governor of Indiania and a briga- 
dier in the United States service, in whose talents and expe- 
rience the western country had the most perfect confidence. 
The object of these troops was to subdue the Indians of the 
west, and regain what was lost at Detroit. The Indians can 
be divested of their means of annoyance only by destroying 
their towns, and their means of support, and in this manner 
compelling them to retire further into the wilderness. Such 
was the object of these preparations. 

Defence of Fori Harrison. Fort Harrison on the Wabash, 
sixty miles above Vinccnnes, on the 4th of September, was in- 
vested by a large party of Indians from the Prophet's town. A 
party of thirty or forty Indians had appeared at the fort early 
in the evening, with a flag, under pretence of obtaining pro- 
visions. Captain Taylor, commander of the garrison, sus- 
pecting an attack, supplied his men with cartridges, and 
increased his guards. At about 11 o'clock, the Indians 
prowling about the fort privately set fire to the block-house, 
in which the provisions and spirits for the garrison were 
stored ; and notwithstanding every exertion, the whole build- 
ing was immediately in flames, and threatened destruction to 
the others ; but the flames were prevented from further 
sjjreading by the great exertions of the garrison. The 
Indians kept up a firing until morning, when the garrison were 
able to direct their fire upon them, and obliged them to retire 
bevond the reach of their guns. The Indians destroyed the 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 95 

horses and hogs, and drove off the cattle belonging to the 
garrison. At the time of this attack, there were not more 
than twenty men in the garrison fit for duty. Captain Tay- 
lor the next day repaired the breach made by the burning of 
the block-house, by a strong row of pickets, and despatched 
messengers to Vincennes for relief. Not long afterwards, 
General Hopkins with the Kentucky volunteers arrived, and 
relieved the garrison. 

General Hopkins'' s first Expedition. The hostility in which 
the Indians had been led to engage by their British friends, 
induced a determination on the part of the Americans, to 
extirpate the hostile tribes, or drive them beyond the limits of 
the United States. While General Harrison was preparing 
and organizing his forces for the Miami, General Hopkins, 
under the direction of the governor of Kentucky, was pre- 
paring an expedition against the Indians on the head waters of 
the Wabash, and Illinois. Early in October a force of four 
thousand mounted men, from Kentucky and the territories of 
Illinois and Indiana, was collected at Vincennes under his 
command. On the 10th of October, they reached fort Har- 
rison and relieved that garrison, and on the 14th crossed the 
Wabash, and encamped after a march of about three miles. 
General Hopkins, perceiving some discontents among his 
troops, assembled the field officers and captains, and explained 
to them the objects of the expedition, and the benefits which 
would probably result from it. The Kickapoo villages were 
about one hundred miles distant, and the Pioria towns about 
one hundred and sixty. The destruction of these towns, and 
the intervening ones, would break up the most formidable 
haunts of the savages, and secure the settlements and posts 
from attack. His troops were supplied with ten days provi- 
sions, and every thing necessary for the expedition. The 
officers held a council, and reported in favour of proceeding ; 
they commenced their march on the 14th, and continued it 
four days. The discontents increased ; many broke away 
and returned. A major addressed the general, in an insolent 



96 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. 5. 

and dictatorial manner, and demanded to be conducted imme- 
diately back. On the 18th, they encamped on the edge of a 
large prairie, covered with high grass and dry weeds. The 
Indians set fire to the opposite sides, the wind drove the 
flames furiously towards the camp, and the Americans with 
some difficulty saved themselves by firing the grass round 
their encampment. This decided the army to return. Gen- 
eral Hopkins offered to lead on five hundred men, if that num- 
ber could be found to volunteer, but none turned out. He 
then proposed to lead them on that day, and then would 
agree to return ; but on putting himself at their head, and 
ordering them to follow, they filed off" in a contrary direction; 
and he was obliged to follow in the rear of his troops back 
to fort Harrison. They had penetrated about eighty miles 
into the Indian country, but found no enemy. 

Second Expedition oj General Hopkins. General Hopkins, 
not discouraged by the ill success of this expedition, determined 
another against the Prophet's town, and other villages on the 
Wabash. On the 11th of November, he marched from fort 
Harrison, with a detachment of United States troops, and as 
many militia as could be induced to join him. On the 20th 
they arrived at the Prophet's town, and destroyed the huts of 
that and the neighbouring villages, amounting to nearly 
three hundred, and large quantities of corn. The Indians 
had abandoned their dwellings at the approach of the 
troops. The army then proceeded in quest of the Indian 
encampment, and on the 24th, found it in a very strong 
position, on the Ponce-passe creek, which protected it on 
three sides, and in front of their encampment was a high 
bluft', which could be approached only through steep ravines. 
This position the Indians had abandoned, previous to the 
approach of General Hopkins. The lateness of the season, 
and the severity of the weather, prevented a further progress 
into the Indian country.* Several other expeditions were 

* General Hopkins's letter to Governor Shelby. 



1818. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 97 

successfully undertaken and accomplished against the In- 
dians on the Wabash, the Illinois, and their tributary streams ; 
and by these means, the security of this frontier was eft'ected. 

After the failure of Chicaugo, and the capture of Captain 
Heald, the Miami and the Potawatomee Indians, to the amount 
of five or six hundred, invested fort Wayne, situated on the 
Miami at the junction of St. Marys and St. Josephs. Gene- 
ral Harrison's first object, after he had collected a sufficient 
force, was the relief of that place. He arrived there with 
twenty-five hundred men, on the 1 2th of September. The In- 
dians, hearing of his approach, had burned and destroyed 
every thing outside of the garrison and fled, four days before 
his arrival. The next object was to open and secure a 
communication along the Miami river, between the settled 
part, of the state of Ohio and Lake Erie, and establishing 
a strong post at the foot of the Miami rapids. 

General Winchester' s advance to the Rapids. On the 20th 
of September, General Winchester commenced his march 
from fort Wayne, along the river, to fort Defiance, at the junc- 
tion of the Au Glaise with the Miami. He reached that place 
on the 2d of October, having had some skirmishing with the 
Indians on his march, by which he lost seven killed and one 
wounded. On his arrival at the fort, he found the enemy had 
passed thence three days before. General Harrison joined the 
troops on their march from fort Wayne to fort Defiance. 
From thence he ordered General Tupper, of the Ohio volun- 
teers, with a detachment of one thousand men, to proceed 
immediately to the rapids, a distance of fifty miles from 
Defiance. General Harrison then left the immediate com- 
mand to General Winchester, and proceeded to Franklinton, 
to organize and bring on the reinforcements. General Tup- 
per, in consequence of the damaged state of his ammunition, 
and the time requisite for procuring provisions, was consider- 
ably delayed. In the mean time, the Indians appeared on the 
opposite side of the river, and killed one man. Major Brush, 
with fifty men, was ordered across the river to reconnoitre ; 

13 



98 HISTORY OF THE L-ATE WAR. Chap. 5. 

when nearly the whole of General Tupper's troops, contrary 
to orders, mounted, and crossed the river in small bands, in 
pursuit of the enemy. General Winchester then ordered 
General Tupper to proceed with his whole force in pursuit of 
the Indians. The latter remonstrated against the order, re- 
presenting' his situation to be such as rendered it impracticable. 
This was followed by a peremptory order to proceed. 
While General Tupper was preparing to obey the order, 
General Winchester transferred the command of the oxpedi- 
dition to Col. Allen of the United States troops ; on this being 
made known to the Ohio militia, they refused to proceed, and 
immediately returned to Urbanna ; and the expedition was 
abandoned. 

General Tupper'' s Expedition. From Urbanna General 
Tupper proceeded to fort M'Arthur, with his mounted men, 
where another expedition was organized, consisting of six 
hundred troops, to proceed to the rapids. He arrived at the 
place of his destination on the evening of the 1 3th of Novem- 
ber, and found the place in possession of the British and In- 
dians, He immediately made a disposition for crossing the 
river. A few of his men succeeded in getting over, but the 
greater part missed the ford, and the depth and rapidity of the 
current endangered their safety; and as soon as day appeared, 
and they were discovered by the energy, those who had cross- 
ed were ordered to return. The gun-boats and other craft in 
the river, escaped down to the lake. The Indian chief 
Splitlog, at the head of a considerable band of warriors, 
crossed the river on horseback, and made a violent attack on 
General Tupper's troops. They were received with firmness, 
driven back, and compelled to recross the river with consid- 
erable loss. General Tupper's provisions being expended, he 
was obliged to return. 

Col. CampbeWs Expedition to the Messessiwena. From 
Franklinton, Colonel Campbell, of the 19th regiment of Uni- 
ted States infantry, was despatched on an expedition against 
the Indians on the Messessiwena river, a branch of the Wabash. 
On the morning of the nth of November, he arrived undis' 



18J2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 9» 

fovered, and made a charge upon their principal town, which, 
he destroyed, with three others a few miles down the river. 
On the 12th of December, his camp was attacked by a party 
of three hundred Indians, on the right line, occupied by Ma- 
jor Ball's squadron of horse, who gallantly fought them for 
three-quarters of an hour, when the Indians retreated. They 
were at the same time bravely charged by Captain Trotter at 
the head of his troop of cavalry. Four Indian towns were 
destroyed, forty warriors killed, and about the «ame number 
made prisoners. The American loss was nine killed, and 
thirty wounded. 

While General Harrison was collecting his forces at San- 
dusky, with a view to concentrate them at the rapids to ope- 
rate upon Maiden and Detroit, General Winchester proceeded 
from fort Defiance along the Miami, and established himself, 
and strengthened the post at the foot of the rapids. Here he 
received a pressing call from the inhabitants of Frenchtown, 
on the river Raisin, for protection ; representing that they 
were every moment exposed and threatened with destruction 
by the British and Indians at Maiden. The Raisin, after an 
easterly course of about forty miles, falls into the west end of 
lake Erie, twenty miles below Maiden, and forty north of the 
mouth of the Miami ; along its banks, for several miles from 
its mouth, are fertile bottom lands of considerable extent, in- 
habited by people of French extract, and composing the vil- 
lage of Frenchtown, which next to Detroit and Mackinaw, is 
the most considerable settlement in the Michigan territory. 
Colonel Lewis, with a detachment of three hundred men, was 
ordered to the relief of these inhabitants. On the 17th, he 
arrived within three miles of the town, when he learned that 
the enemy were already there, and had taken possession of 
the fortified position formerly occupied by Captain Brush. 
On the iSth, he attacked and drove them from their strong 
holds, pursued them a considerable distance into the woods, 
and returned and encamped on the ground from whence he had 
driven them. On the 20lh, General Winchester arrived with 



100 HiBTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cha*. 5- 

the main body from the rapids. The whole force now amount- 
ed to seven hundred and fifty men, consisting of regular 
troops, and a large corps of Kentucky volunteers. This ex- 
pedition was the effect of inconsiderate zeal and humanity, 
and not the result of military prudence. The detachment was 
now seventy miles from any succours, in an uncovered situa- 
tion, and within twenty miles of Maiden, where was a much 
.superior British force. The ice formed a solid bridge from 
Maiden to Frenchtown, and a march of six hours was only 
requisite to bring the British to the American encampment. 
Captain Brush's works having been completed for a much 
Smaller body of men, were insufficient to protect the whole 
of General Winchester's forces, and one hundred and fifty of 
them were necessarily posted in an exposed situation outside 
of the pickets. The expedition was undertaken without the 
knowledge of General Harrison, and when he heard of it, he 
was filled with the most alarming apprehensions for their safe- 
ty. Having written to Governor Meigs, expressing his fears 
in strong terms, and requesting further succours, he pressed on 
with all the troops he had collected at Sandusky, to the 
rapids, to be in a situation to support General Winchester. 
The situation of this detachment did not fail to attract the 
attention of the British at Maiden. 

Battle at the River Raisin, On the evening of the 21st of 
January, Colonel Proctor left Maiden with six hundred British 
and Canadians, and upwards of one thousand Indians under 
the chiefs Splitlog and Roundhead, and at day-break of the 
22d, commenced a furious attack upon the Americans. The 
left wing of General Winchester's troops, amounting to six 
hundred, were stationed within the pickets, formed in a half 
circle. The British artillery were in front, the Canadians and 
Indians on each Hank. The right wing, consisting of one 
hundred and fifty men, were in an exposed situation without 
the pickets. Large bodies of Indians- were stationed in the 
rear to intercept a retreat. The onset was first made on the 
right wing, which after sustaining an unequal contest for 



^812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR- JQI 

twenty minutes, broke and fled across the river ; here they 
fell in with a body of Indians, and were nearly all mas- 
sacred. Two companies of fifty men each, which went out 
from the pickets to their assistance, shared the same fate. 
General Winchester and Colonel Lewis, in attempting to 
rally them, and bring them to a more advantageous position, 
were made prisoners. The left wing maintained their posi- 
tion, and fought with distinguished valour, against treble their 
number, until eleven o'clock; when General Winchester hav- 
ing no hopes of success or escape for this band, capitulated 
for them; stipulating for their safety and honourable treatment 
as prisoners of war, and particularly that the wounded should 
be protected from the fury of the savages. Three hundred 
and ninety-seven were slain in battle, or afterwards massacred 
by the Indians; the remainder all taken prisoners. The 
British acknowledge a loss of only twenty-four killed, and 
one hundred and fifty-eight wounded. This, however, is alto- 
gether short of the real number, as they sustained a constant 
and heavy fire from the troops within the pickets, from seven 
to eleven o'clock in the forenoon. Sixty-four wounded Ame- 
ricans were left on the ground ; these by the aid of the inha- 
bitants, had mostly been removed into the neigbouring houses, 
and were left by the British with the promise that they should 
be transported in sleighs to Maiden. 

Massacre, On the morning of the 23d, a large body of 
Indians came in, tomahawked, and scalped these sufferers, 
then stripped them, plundered and set fire to the houses, and 
consumed the dead and dying in one undistinguished confla* 
gration. The fate of Captain Hart was peculiarly distress- 
ing, though similar in many of its circumstances to a 
number of others. Early in the action he had received a 
wound in the knee, which prevented his walking. After 
the capitulation, Captain Elliott, an American in the 
British service, who had been a class-mate and a particular 
friend of Captain Hart, at Princeton College, came to him. 
voluntarily offered him his protection, and assured him hr 



102 



HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. *. 



should be conveyed to Maiden, and taken care of in Elliott's 
house until he recovered. With these fair promises, he 
indulged the hope of speedy relief and recovery. But the 
next day he found himself in the hands of the savages. They 
tore him from the bed where he lay ; a brother officer rescued 
him, and conveyed him to another apartment. Here he was 
again assaulted. At length he bargained with one of the 
Indians for a hundred dollars to convey him to Maiden. 
They set off on horse-back, and having travelled a few miles, 
were met by another band of savages, who claimed Captain 
Hart as their prisoner. The Indian not giving him up, the 
others shot and scalped him. Such of the wounded as were 
able to travel, the Indians carried off with them into the 
wilderness, and afterwards brought them into Detroit, where 
they were ransomed and furnished with clothing by the 
inhabitants. Judge Woodward and Mr. M'Intosh, with other 
inhabitants of the Michigan territory, exerted themselves for 
the relief of the sufferers, and procured the release of all who 
survived of those who had been carried off by the Indians. 
General Harrison despatched Doctor M'Keehan with two 
attendants from Sandusky, to assist in dressing the wounded, 
with an open letter to General Winchester, a flag, and an 
address to Colonel Proctor, or any British officer, stating his 
character and business, and furnished with money to procure 
necessaries. At the rapids of the Miami they entered a 
vacant house for a few hours' sleep, and left their flag hoisted 
in the sleigh at the door. They were soon fired upon by a 
party of Indians, one of the attendants killed, the doctor and 
the other made prisoners, and conveyed to Maiden, where 
they were treated as spies, put in close confinement, and sent 
to Quebec ; Proctor inhumanly remarking that the Indians- 
were excellent doctors. The rites of sepulture were refused 
to the slain. On application to Colonel Proctor, for leave 
to bury the dead ; he replied that the Indians would not per- 
mit it. The few remaining wretched inhabitants, privately 
buried Captain Hart, and some others. This being dis- 



1«12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 103 

covered by the Indians, they were threatened with instant 
death it" they buried any more; and the mangled remains ot 
the slain lay exposed in the fields, by the sides of the road, 
and in the woods, to the amount of upwards of two hundred, 
a prey to the wild beasts. Colonel Proctor seems to have 
permitted and even encouraged the barbarities of the Indians, 
to induce them to continue the w&r,and to strike terror into 
the American forces that should be opposed to them. The 
effect however was the reverse of despondence. Though 
Kentucky was in mourning for the loss of many of her brave 
sons, yet on the news of this event, new volunteers, in ample 
numbers, rallied around the standard of their country, and 
were eventually successful in avenging their losses. 

After the surrender of Detroit, General Brock having com- 
mitted the civil and military concerns of the Michigan terri- 
tory to Colonel Proctor, and appointed him commandant at 
Maiden, relumed to the defence of the Niagara frontier, and 
established his head-quarters at fort George. 

Niagara Frontier, The Niagara river runs a distance of 
thirty-five miles from south to north, conveying the waters of 
the upper lakes into Ontario, and dividing the British and 
American territories. Nearly in the centre between lakes 
Erie and Ontario, is the celebrated Niagara cataract. On 
the American side is the village of Buffalo: at the outlet of 
lake Erie, two miles further down the river, is the village of 
Black Rock, which furnishes a harbour for vessels navigating 
the lake. At the head of the falls is Scholosser, and seven 
miles below is the village of Lewistown, which affords a land- 
ing-place for goods conveyed on lake Ontario, and destined 
for the settlements above. Near the junction of the river 
with the lake, is the Niagara fort and village. This fortress 
is an ancient French establishment, erected for the purpose 
of commanding the lake, and controlling the neighbouring 
Indians. Between these villages, the whole length of the 
frontier, are scattered farming plantations. On the British 
side between the lakes, is the Niagara peninsula, on which 



104 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap a. 

and nearly opposite Buffalo stands fort Erie, designed to 
command the entrance of the lake. Near the falls, and 
opposite Scholosser, is the village of Chippewa, on a creek 
of the same name, inhabited by Canadians and Indians. 
Seven miles below, and opposite Levvist»wn, is Queenston, 
which is the British landing-place for goods designed for the 
upper country. A little to the southward of the town, com- 
mence Queenston heights, which extend to the cataract. 
Near the mouth of the river, and opposite fort Niagara, is fort 
George, erected by the British on their giving up Niagara to 
the Americans; between that and the lake is the village of 
Newark. Scattering settlements lie along the river between 
these villages the whole length of the frontier; and the inhabit- 
ants on each side, connected in business and intermarriages, 
were in the constant habits of friendly intercourse. This 
frontier was the principal scene of active war during the whole 
of the contest. 

Battle of Queenston. In the beginning of October, there 
were assembled at Black Rock and Buffalo thirteen hun- 
dred newly enlisted recruits under General Smyth, five hun- 
dred militia at the same place, twenty-nine hundred militia 
near Lewistown; six companies of field and light artillery, 
amounting to three hundred men, and eight hundred infantry 
at fort Niagara, making an aggregate of five thousand eight 
hundred, and composing what General Smyth in his procla- 
mations denominates the army of the centre, extending the 
length of the Niagara frontier, the whole of this force was 
under the command of Major General Van Rensselaer, of 
the Albany militia. On the opposite side of the river yt;as 
General Brock, with a force at fort George, and other posts 
extending to and including fort Erie, of two thousand four 
hundred men, consisting of the veterans of the 41st and 49th 
regiments, and Canadian flank companies, and four hundred 
Indians. 

On the 8th of October, two British armed brigs, the De- 
troit and Caledonia, came down the lake from Malder^, and 



4312. HISTORY OF Tiffi LATE WAR. J05. 

anchored under the guns of fort Erie. Lieutenant Elliott, of 
the navy, had then just arrived at Black Rock, with fifty sea- 
men to superintend the naval operations in that quarter. On 
the evening of the 9th, with his seamen and a detachment of 
fifty volunteers from General Smyth's brigade, he passed 
over from Black Rock, boarded, and took the brigs. But 
the wind not favouring, they drifted down the current and 
grounded. The Detroit, which was formerly the American 
brig Adams, and surrendered by Hull at Detroit, after being 
divested of most of her military stores, was abandoned and 
burnt. The Caledonia, being near enough to be protected by 
the guns at Black Rock, was saved : she was laden with firs to 
the value of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. This 
brilliant achievement was effected with the loss of only twe 
killed, and four wounded. 

The general tenor of the congressional debates, and the 
publications and conversation of the day, had induced a set- 
tled belief, that the Canadas would be a certain, easy, and 
almost a bloodless conquest ; that upon the appearance of a 
respectable force, at any point on the frontier, the Canadians 
in great numbers would flock to the American standard, and 
assist in the object. Impressed with these ideas, the militia 
and volunteers who had come out but for a short period, were 
impatient to make a descent on Canada. They insisted on 
being permitted to attack and drive the British from the Niag- 
ara peninsula, and return to their homes ; and many threat- 
ened to leave the camp, unless led to immediate action. The 
success of Lieutenant Elliott had induced them to believe that 
the conquest was an easy one ; and that they had only to 
show themselves to the enemy in order to conquer them. In 
compliance with their wishes, General Van Rensselaer de- 
cided on making the attempt. The principal British force was 
at fort George; but they had made an establishment, and 
erected batteries on the heights above Queenston ; against 
these batteries, the efforts of the American troops were to be 
first directe4. Batteries were erected on the American 

14 



106 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. -Chap. 5. 

shore, to protect the passage and landing of the troops. 
The regular forces, under Colonel Fenwick and Major Mal- 
lary, were ordered up to Lewislown ; and thirteen boats, 
being all that could be procured at the time, were provided 
for crossing. The van of the troops destined for the attack, 
consisted of militia, under the command of Colonel Solomon 
Van Rensselaer, aid to the General ; a part of the 1 3th 
infantry, under Colonel Christie ; a detachment of the 6th and 
9th, under Major Mallary ; the whole amounting to four hun- 
dred men. At three o'clock, on the morning of the 13th, 
they proceeded from the camp at Lewistown to the place of 
embarkation. Colonel Van Rensselaer, to whom the chief 
command of the expedition was intrusted, with a hundred men, 
crossed over and effected a landing. A grape-shot from a 
battery below Queenston which enfiladed the passage, wound- 
ed Colonel Christie in the hand ; his pilot became confused, 
his boatmen frightened, and he was obliged to return. The 
boats with Major Mallary were carried by the violence of the 
current below the landing place, two of them were taken, and 
the others returned. In ascending the bank. Colonel Van 
Rensselaer received four wounds. Captains Armstrong, 
"Wool, and Malcom, were also wounded and Lieutenant Val- 
leau and Ensign Morris, killed. A party of British troops 
having issued from an old fort below Queenston, were fired 
upon by the Americans and compelled to retreat. The firing 
from the batteries on the heights, soon obliged the Americans 
to lake shelter under the bank. To Colonel Van Rensselaer, 
who lay on the bank severely wounded, application was made 
for orders. He directed the batteries to be immediately 
stormed. The men were rallied, and one hundred and sixty, 
under the command of Captain Wool, mounted the rocks on 
the right of the batteries, and took them. The guns weie 
ordered to be turned upon the enemy, but were found to be 
spiked. The remainder of the detachment now joined Cap- 
tain Wool. Both parties were considerably reinforced, and 
the conflict grew severe at various points. Many of the Brit- 



■4^12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. J 07 

ish took shelter behind a guard-house, from whence a piece of 
ordnance was briskly served, but the fire from the batteries 
on the American side soon silenced it. The British then re- 
tired behind a large stone house, but were soon routed aad 
driven from the hill in every direction. General Brock ral- 
lied the troops at Queenston, and with reinforcements, led 
them round the hill in rear of the batteries ; Caplian Wool 
discerning this, detached one hundred and sixty men to meet 
them ; these were driven back. Being reinforced, they returned^ 
to the attack, and were again driven by the British to the pre- 
cipice which forms the bank of the Niagara above Queenslon. 
Here the British pressing upon them with double their num- 
bers, and no opportunity of retreating, an officer placed a 
white handkerchief upon the point of a bayonet, and raised 
it as a flag, with intention to surrender, Captain Wool imme- 
diately tore it off, rallied his men, and returned to the charge. 
The British troops were in turn routed. 

General Brock slain. General Brock, in eiideavouring to 
rally them, was struck by three balls,-aud instantly killed. 
His aid. Colonel M'Donald, the attorney general of Upper 
Canada, was mortally wounded by his side. By ten o'clock, 
the British were completely driven from the heights. The 
American line re-formed, and flanking parties sent out. The 
victory now appeared complete, and General Van Rensselaer 
porceeded to take measures to secure the conquest. At tw(> 
o'clock. General Wadsworth of the militia, with Colonels 
Scott, Christie, and Major Mallary, crossed over and took tH* 
command. Captain Wool was directed to retire, and have 
his wounds dressed. He crossed the river for that purpose, 
and soon returned to the field. About three o'clock a large 
party of Indians appeared pouring out of Chippewa, and 
with their savage yells, commenced a furious attack. The 
Americans at first gave way, but were soon rallied, and 
charged the savages, who directly fled to the woods, leaving 
one of their chiefs a prisoner, and several dead on the ground. 
iSgarcely had this battle ended, when a large reinforcement' 



108 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. 

with artillery arrived from fort George, and the battle was 
renewed with increased severity. 

Militia refuse to cross the River. Most of the events of the 
day were in view of Lewistown. The militia who had not 
crossed over, had now seen enough of war. Their zeal for 
the Canadian conquest had abated. They had discovered 
that the constitution did not require them to go beyond the 
limits of the United States. Several boat-loads which had 
embarked, returned, and no more could be induced to go. 
General Van Rensselaer returned to the American side, and 
by every means of persuasion and authority, promising and 
threatening, endeavoured to bring them over to secure the vic- 
tory, but to no effect. Twelve hundred, whose presence only 
on the opposite bank, would have decided the fortune of the 
day, stood on the American shore, inactive spectators of the 
slaughter and capture of their brethren. The regular troops, 
imder General Smyth, who had been ordered down from Black 
Rock, had not arrived; and the Americans on the heights 
were left to protect themselves. At this time General Van 
Rensselaer addressed a note to General Wadsworth, inform- 
ing him that it was out of his power to send him succours, and 
advising him to retreat to the river, where boats should be 
provided to take them over. The gallant band fought their 
way to the river against thrice their numbers, but on arriving 
there no boats were to be found. The same panic had struck 
the boatmen ; not a boat could be manned to bring them off, 
and the whole were obliged to surrender. * 

Surrender of the Americans. Three hundred and eighty- 
six regulars, and three hundred and sixty-eight militia were 
made prisoners ; the number killed was not exactly ascer- 
tained, but supposed to be about ninety. The whole loss in 
killed, wounded, prisoners, and missing, was estimated at 
a thousand. General Brock was conveyed to fort George, 



'* Creneral Van Rensselaer's tetter to General Dearborn, of October 
14,1812. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 109 

and interred on the 15th with military honours; the guns of 
fort Niagara, as well as fort George, fired during the cere- 
mony. 

General Smythh Proclamation. Most of the militia, who 
were not made prisoners, were discharged, and on the 24th 
of October, General Van Rensselaer resigned the command 
to General Smyth, and retired from the service. On the 10th 
of November, General Smyth issued his first proclamation to 
the citizens of New- York, informing them that one army had 
been lost by a precipitate attempt to pass over at the strong- 
est point of the enemy's lines with most incompetent means. 
That the commanders in that expedition were destitute of 
theory and experience in the art of war. That in a few days 
the troops under his command would plant the American 
standard in Canada ; and calling upon them to join him on 
horse-back or on foot, in companies, half companies, in pairs, 
or singly, and assuring them of the most brilliant success.* 
This proclamation was seconded by an address from General 
Peter B. Porter, of Black Rock, to the men of the counties of 
Ontario and Genesee,, calling upon them to join him in the 
expedition, and assuring them that he should join General 
Smyth; "and that a vigorous campaign of one month would 
relieve their brethren on the frontier from the calamities inci- 
dent to those who are placed near the seat of war, palsy the 
savage hand that was then wielding the scalping-knife, restore 
peace to that section of the state, and redeem the tarnished 
reputation of the country." These applications to the valour 
and patriotism of the citizens of the western section of the 
state of New- York were not made in vain. A respectable 
force volunteered under General Porter for the expedition. 
On the 17th of November, General Smyth issued a second 
proclamation addressed to the army of the centre under his 
command, assuring ihem that the time was now at hand, 
when they should cross the Niagara, to conquer Canada, and 

^ • * Smyth's first proclamation-. 



1 10 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. 

secure peace to the American frontier. As they were about 
to enter a country which was soon to become one of the 
United States, he enjoined them to respect private property, 
promising to divide among them whatever booty they should 
obtain agreeable to the usages of war.* 

Preparations for Invasion. On the 27th of November, the 
military force collected at Black Rock, under General Smyth, 
prepared for the invasion of Canada, amounted to four thou- 
sand five hundred effective men, consisting of New- York 
volunteers under General Porter, and regulars and volunteers 
from Pennsylvania and Baltimore. Eighty-five boats were 
prepared for crossing the river, capable of transporting at^ 
once the necessary artillery and three thousand five hundred 
men. On the night of the 27th, two parties were sent over, 
one under Colonel Boerlster, and the other under Captain 
King, assisted by a company of marines, under Lieutenant 
Angus, to destroy the British batteries. They effectually ac- 
complished this object, routed the enemy, spiked their guns, 
and drove them from the shore. Captain King, in attempting 
to return, was captured, with two boats belonging to his party. 
Colonel Winder, with a party of two hundred and fifty men, 
in attempting to land at a difficult point on the river, was pre- 
vented by the rapidity of the current, and obliged to return 
to the American side. The general embarkation commenced 
in the morning of the 28lh, but was not completed until 
afternoon. They then moved up the stream from the navy 
yard to Black Rock, and were ordered by General Smyth to 
disembark and dine. After dinner, the expedition was post- 
poned to a future day. This attempt gave the enemy full 
notice of the plans of the American general. The two fol- 
lowing days were employed in preparations for a second at- 
tempt. At three o'clock in the morning of the 1st of Decem- 
ber, the embarkation commenced a second time ; the regulars 
on the right. General Tanehills's brigade in the centre, and 

* Snij th's second proclamation. 



i8J2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAB. Hj 

the New- York volunteers on the left. General Porter accom- 
panied by Majors Chapin and Macomb, Captain Mills of the 
cavalry, and Adjutant Chace, with two pilots, took his station 
in the front boat, hoisted his flag, and advanced to the head 
of the line to lead the expedition. 

Expedition abandoned. The troops, in fine spirits and in 
eager expectation, awaited their orders from General Smyth, 
when, after considerable delay, they were given, not to pro- 
ceed to the Canada shore, but to disembark and go into win- 
ter-quarters. Nothing could exceed the chagrin and disap- 
pointment of the troops upon this occasion ; disorder and in- 
subordinatien ensued ; General Smyth's life was threatened, 
and in imminent danger ; the militia disbanded and sent 
home ; and General Smyth, finding that the Canadas were 
not to be taken by proclamation, and being disinclined to 
make use of more powerful means, retired from the service. 

Duel between Generals Smyth and Porter. General Porter 
imputed the abandonment of the expedition altogether to 
the cowardice of General Smyth. This ended in a challenge 
from the latter, and a duel between the two generals. Not- 
withstanding the articles of war prohibited duelling in the 
army, under the severest penalties, the American nation was 
doomed to witness the first and second in command in the 
army of the centre, violating the articles of war, under which 
they acted, in its most essential provisions. On the 12th of 
December, the two generals, with their select friends, sur- 
geons, and seconds, at two in the afternoon, in view of their 
army, put off in two barges from their encampment, to Grand 
Island, landed, retired a little distance from the shore, marked 
out their ground at twelve paces distance, and exchanged 
shots. The surgeons immediately proceeded to examine the 
effects ; happily the balls, if any there were, had missed their 
objects, and the lives of the two generals were preserved to 
their country for future achievements. The seconds inter- 
fered and produced a reconciliation. General Porter acknow- 
ledged that he was now convinced that General Smyth was a 



J 12 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6, 

man of courage ; and Smyth, that he knew nothing derogatory 
to the character of General Porter, as a gentleman and an 
officer. The two generals gave each other the hand, con- 
gratulating themselves that they were still alive and unhurt. 
The parties returned as from an excursion of pleasure, and 
ended the day in a convivial entertainment ; the duel, very 
fortunately for the combatants, was as bloodless as the expe- 
dition which occasioned it. Nations, long accustomed to the 
arts of war, punish with the most rigid severity, any viola- 
tion of the laws established for the government of their armies; 
and for obvious reasons, are the more inflexible in inflicting 
the punishment, when the offence proceeds from officers of the 
highest grade. The celebrated Prussian monarch, Frederick 
III., on being applied to by two of his general officers for per- 
mission to fight a duel, readily consented, but informed them, 
that a file of his sharp shooters would attend, and make the 
second fire. This led to an immediate reconciliation, and pre- 
vented further applications. But the mild and peaceful char- 
acter of the American government induced them altogether 
to overlook this offence, and suffer the example to remain a 
precedent for furture occasions. 

The general depot for supplies for the armies of the north 
and west, was fixed at Albany; and the rendezvous for recruits, 
at Greenbush, on the opposite bank of the Hudson. Here 
was a central point where they might be directed to the west 
or north, as circumstances required. The operations of both 
were under the direction of General Dearborn, who fixed his 
head-quarters at Albany. This point, three hundred miles 
distant from the nearest scene of action, was selected by the 
commanding general, where the operations of the troops un- 
der his command might be directed without the inconvenience 
of personal exposure; and the responsibility, in case of the fail- 
ure of any expedition, might rest more immediately upon the 
officers present in command. The army of the north was 
under the immediate command of General Bloomfield, whose 
head-quarters were at Plattsburgh. This army consisted of 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. US 

from two to four thousand men, and as no enemy was nearer 
than Montreal, a distance of sixty miles, with a wilderness 
and the river St. Lawrence intervening, they had leisure to 
perfect themselves in military tactics. During the autumn 
they made several incursions into Canada in quest of an ene- 
my, but found none. This was an army of reserve, designed 
to form a junction with the armies of the north-west, and of 
the centre, on the St. Lawrence, in their progress to Montreal. 
It was confidently expected that the western regions of Up- 
per Canada would yield to the American force upon the 
first impression. The armies of the north-west and of the 
centre werje then to concentrate, and proceed with a force 
which should " look down all opposition," to the St. Law- 
rence. Here they were to be joined by the army of the 
north, and long before the close of the campaign establish 
their head-quarters at Montreal. To provide for these armies 
in their advance, a depot was established at Ogdensburgh, on 
the St. Lawrence, one hundred and thirty miles from that 
city. On the 4th of October, this post was attacked by the 
British from Prescot on the opposite shore, with a view to de- 
stroy these stores. It was gallantly and successfully defend- 
ed by the New- York militia under General Brown ; two 
British boats were destroyed, and the residue obliged precipi- 
tately to retreat. 

The upper territories of Canada, including Montreal, being 
conquered, the lower province, it was expected, would of 
course fall, or if the British were suffered to retain possession, 
it must be of very little consequence after their western fur 
trade was annihilated. These events were expected to bring 
on a negotiation in the course of the winter, which would 
probably end in the restoration of the Canadas, and a re- 
cognition of all the American maritime claims. 

These plans, so flattering in theory, and promising in pros- 
pect, utterly failed in the execution. Misfortune seems to 
have attended every stage of the campaign of 1 812. Instead 
of realizing those pleasing anticipations, it ended with the loss 

15 



114 HISTORY OF THE LATE "VVAR. Chap. &. 

of the important fortresses of Detroit and Mackinaw, and the 
whole territory of Michigan •, of three armies captured,* and 
more than six thousand men killed, wounded, and prisoners. 
No territory had been gained ; every conflict with the British, 
resulted in the defeat of the Americans, and the prospects of 
peace had been removed at a hopeless distance. 

Causes of the Failure of the Campaign 0/ 1812. A variety 
of causes operated to produce these unfortunate results. 

Resources for the Defence of the Canadas. The two pro- 
vinces of the Canadas, at the commencement of the war, 
contained a white population of three hundred thousand ; al- 
lowing every tenth person to be subject to bear arms, their 
militia would amount to thirty thousand. The regular troops, 
in. consequence of the appearances of war, had been aug- 
mented from three to five thousand, and admitted of consid- 
erable further increase, as circumstances might require, from 
their other American possessions, and from Europe. 

A considerable portion of the Indian population must be 
estimated as under British influence, and capable of being 
brought to act against the United States. These people have 
ever been hostile to the progressive settlement of the whites : 
their chiefs have supposed that they saw in them the ultimate 
extinction of their race, and were ever ready to listen to the 
suggestions and promises of the British, to check the pro- 
gress of the settlements, and restore to the Indians their 
lands. By these suggestions, by supplying them with 
arms, encouraging their natural disposition to war, and in- 
dulging their propensity to massacre and plunder, the British 
were able to command the services of five thousand Indian 
Avarriors. 

Quebec was strongly fortified, and considered impregna- 
ble. Strong garrisons were established at Kingston, Mon- 
treal, and several other points. The British possessed the 
means of transportation in a much superior degree to the 

^' Hull's, Van Rensselaer's, and Winchestei-'s. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. i U 

Americans. The freight from Portsmouth, in England, to 
Kingston, would not amount to one fourth as much as the 
transportation from New- York to Sackett's Harbour, neces- 
sarily embracing a land carriage of one hundred and eighty- 
miles. This gave them immense advantages in ship-building 
on the lakes, and in every military operation. 

The population of the Canadas was generally loyal. It 
had been the policy of Great Britain, to encourage settlements 
in these provinces, by liberal grants of land to settlers, at 
mere nominal prices, by exemption from taxes, and by com- 
mercial privileges. No disposition appeared in the great 
body of the Canadian people to exchange the British for the 
American government ; and wherever it did appear, it was ef- 
fectually checked by the abandonment of the unfortunate Ca- 
nadians who had joined General Hull's standard, and their ex- 
ecution as traitors by the British general. The real strength 
of the Canadas, the disposition of the inhabitants, and the 
means of defence were not accurately known and estimated 
by the American government. The conquest should not have 
been attempted with a less force than twenty thousand effec- 
tive regular troops. 

State of Peace. A state of profound peace for thirty years 
had rendered the art of war in a great measure unknown. 
Most of the heroes of the revolution had paid the debt of 
nature, those who survived, had long since lost the fire and 
vigour of youth. The organization of the army was a matter 
of extreme difficulty. Most of the higher grades were filled 
with revolutionary officers. Government indeed availed them- 
selves of their experience, but suffered much from want of 
energy. The subordinate stations were necessarily filled 
with men without experience. From the mass of applica- 
tions with which the bureau of the secretary of war was 
filled, the executive had a choice of men •, but where there 
had been no experience, it was impossible to discern where 
that coolness, judgment, and courage, so necessary to the fin- 
ished officer, resided. A selection wai5 made generally of 



il6 HISTORY OF TIUS LATE WAR. CHAi-.y. 

judicious and brave men. They had then the art of war to 
learn, in the field, in the face of an enemy, and at the head of 
undisciplined troops. They had to contend with a power, 
who had been constantly at war, for twenty years, and with 
troops who had seen much service. The celebrated General 
Brock, and the forty-ninth regiment, had fought in Egypt. 
Their officers had been selected from soldiers of merit, and 
trained to discipline. 

Another cause of misfortune was a deficiency in the intelli- 
gence department. Correct information of the strength and 
position of the enemy, is a necessary part of the art of war ; 
and an organized plan for obtaining such intelligence, forms 
one important ingredient in the military system. In this 
respect, at the commencement of the war, there was a great 
deficiency, and the enemy's plans were consequently unknown, 
and their strength liable to be under or over-rated, either of 
which must prove equally fatal. In the case of General 
Hull, it was greatly over-rated, and produced the surrender 
of his army to an inferior force. In the case of General 
Smyth, the same cause produced irresolution and inaction. 
In the instance of General Winchester, it was underrated, and 
an army totally defeated and lost thereby. 

Structure of the American Government. The organization 
of the American government, adapted to all the purposes ot 
peace and defence, is nowise calculated for a war of con- 
quest. The physical force of the nation, residing in the 
mihtia, is under the control of the states, and not subject to 
the general government for the purposes of offensive war. 

When an enemy is collected on the border, threatening 
invasion, no doubt the militia may constitutionally be required 
to pass the lines and dislodge him as a means of preventing 
invasion, or where he has already invaded, to pursue him 
beyond the borders. However much the militia under Gen- 
eral Van Rensselaer may be censured for carrying their 
commander to an immediate invasion contrary to his better 
^judgmcnT, inducing their brethren in arms to crobs the river. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. n? 

relying on their support, and " deserting them in their utmost 
need ;" yet it must be acknowledged that they decided cor- 
rectly on their rights, when they judged that the constitution 
did not require them to pass the lines for the purposes of 
conquest. With a military force thus composed, no foreign 
conquest can be achieved or retained. 

War is to be carried on by the United States by an army 
obtained only by voluntary enlistment. The soldier, for the 
period of his enlistment, places his life and liberty at the 
absolute control of the government; and this power is to be 
exercised by officers unknown to him. In the crowded pop- 
ulation of Europe the army is often a retreat from starvation, 
and no difficulty is experienced in procuring soldiers, but the 
happy situation of that class of people in the American soci- 
ety, to whom proposals for enlistment must be addressed, and 
who are able by one day's labour to procure subsistence for 
four, was a powerful and indeed an insurmountable obstacle 
to raising an adequate army. Not one fourth of the 25,000 
men which were directed to be raised by the act of Congress 
of the 11th of January, 1812, ever reached the army that 
season; and three years' faithful trial, with liberal wages and 
extravagant bounties, has proved beyond a doubt, that the 
free and happy yeomanry of America are not to be induced 
to exchange the ease and plenty of home, for the dangers and 
privations of the camp. The difficulty of procuring enlist- 
ments rendered a resort to the militia necessary, to accom- 
plish the objects of the campaign. The conduct of those 
under General Hopkins on the Wabash, and General Van 
Rensselaer on the Niagara, developed the nature and value 
of that species of force. And although the militia of the west, 
in many instances, manifested a laudable spirit of patriotism 
and courage ; yet the event fully demonstrated that no militia, 
however ardent or patriotic, are to be relied on for the pur- 
poses of foreign conquest. 

Deficiency of Funds. The funds requisite to supply the 
war expenditures are to be drawn from the people bydirecP 



118 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. (Jhap. 5 

taxes, imposed by their immediate representatives, who are 
themselves to bear their proportion of the burdens. Under 
such circumstances, taxes are often laid with so sparing a 
hand, and at so late a period, as to defeat the object. With- 
out adequate funds, seasonably procured and applied, every 
operation must fail. The war estimates and appropriations 
for the year 1812, amounted to eleven millions of dollars. 
Not one half of which was procured by the loans which were 
authorized for the purpose, and the actual expenditures more 
than doubled the estimates. 

The twelfth Congress, whose first acts were to declare war, 
and incur the attendant expenses, and whose next duty it was 
to provide adequate means, suffered their terms to expire 
without providing the necessary funds, and threw the odium 
of laying the direct taxes and internal duties on their suc- 
cessors. The cautious money-lender, whose interest always 
takes precedency of his patriotism, observing this reluctance 
in Congress to provide for the interest, withheld his loans, 
and money was obtained only at great sacrifices, in such 
small quantities, and at so late periods, as very much to 
embarrass the operations of the war. 



CHAPTER VI. 

Plan of Defence on the Sea-board. — American Frigates sail. — Cruise of 
Commodore Rodgers's Squadron. — Cruise of the Constitution. — Cap- 
ture of the Guerriere. — Cruise of the Essex. — Capture of the Alert. — 
Capture of the Frolic : and of the Wasp and Frolic by the Poic- 
tiers.— Capture of the Macedonian. — Arrival of the United States 
and Macedonian. — ^The Flag of the Macedonian sent to Washington. — 
Second Cruise of the Constitution. — Capture of the Java. — Rule for 
distributing Prize Money. — Success of Privateers. — Number and 
Value of British Vessels captured in 1812. — East-Florida Frontier. — 
Colonel Newman's Expedition. — Repeal of the Orders in Council. — 
First Proposition of Mr. Russell for an Armistice. — Lord Castlereagh's 
Reply. — Second Proposition and Reply. — Admiral Warren's Proposi- 
tion for an Armistice. — Mr. Monroe's Reply. 

On the sea-board, the regular forces having been mostly 
withdrawn, and sent to the Canadian frontier, the militia were 
rehed on for defence. Those states which had complied with 
the President's requisition, had detachments of their militia 
stationed at the most exposed points. Massachusetts, Con- 
necticut, and Rhode-Island, were left to provide for the 
defence of their coast by occasional calls of their militia. 
There were, however, no attempts to invade the coast during 
the year 1812. 

The feelings of the American nation which had been deeply 
wounded by the ill success of their arras on the frontier, were 
highly gratified by the brilliant achievements of their navy. 
When their little squadrons left their ports to contend with the 
haughty mistress of the ocean, every breast was filled with 
anxiety. The British naval commanders had boasted that 
they would drive the little striped bunting of the States from 
the ocean. But the American frigates had not been long at 
sea, before news of a character calculated to humble British 
pride, and raise the American spirit, was received. 



J 20 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 5. 

Previous to the declaration of war, preparation had been 
made to send to sea, immediately on that event, all the 
frigates and armed vessels that could be put in readiness, to 
protect American commerce, and meet the enemy on the 
ocean. 

Cruise of Commodore Rodger s''s Squadro7u On the 21st of 
June, a squadron, consisting of the President, the United 
States, the Congress, the Hornet, and Argus, under the com- 
mand of Commodore Rodgers, sailed from New- York on a 
cruise in quest of a convoy of British merchantmen, then on 
their way from Jamaica to England. On the 23d, off Nan- 
tucket, they fell in with the Belvidere British frigate, to which 
they gave chase. The President, being the head-most ship, 
commenced a running fire, which continued two hours. Night 
coming on, the Belvidere, by lightening ship, and crowding 
sail, escaped. The squadron pursued the convoy to within 
twenty hours sail of the British Channel ; missing their object, 
they then steered for the island of Madeira, passed close 
under that island, thence by the way of the Azores to New- 
foundland, and returned to Boston on the 1st of September, 
having made seven captures, and one re-capture during the 
cruise. Though this cruise was not so successful in captures 
as was expected, owing in a great degree to the haziness of 
the weather, yet it was of great service in protecting home- 
ward bound American vessels.* 

Cruise of the Constitution, Commodore Hull, in the Con- 
stitution, sailed from the Chesapeake on the 12th of July; 
on the 1 7th, oft' Egg Harbour, was chased by a ship of the 
line and four frigates. These ships approached rapidly with 
a fine breeze, while it was nearly calm about the Constitu- 
tion. At sun rise of the eighteenth, escape appeared hope- 
less, as they had neared her considerably during the night, 
preparation was then made for action. The enemy still 
drawing near, another effort was made to escape. Boats 

^ Commodore Rodg^ers's letter to -the secretarj' of the navy. 



1812. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 121 

we re sent ahead with anchors for the purpose of warping, 
1 1 ^vas now nearly a calm with the British, and they resorted 
to the same expedient. The chase continued for two days, 
partly sailing with hght breezes, and partly by warping. 
On the twentieth, the squadron was left entirely out of 
sight, and the Constitution made the harbour of Boston. On 
the second of August, Commodore Hull again put to sea, 
cruised along the eastern coast as far as the bay of Fundy, 
in expectation of falling in with British frigates in that direc- 
tion. Not finding any, he proceeded to take a station off the 
gulf of St. Lawrence, to intercept the Quebec trade. Having 
here taken two or three merchantmen, he proceeded to the 
southward. 

Capture of the Guerriere. On the nineteenth, he fell in with 
the British frigate Guerriere, rated at thirty-eight, but mount- 
ing fifty-four guns. This vessel had hoisted at her mast head, 
a flag with her name, the Warrior, in large characters, and 
on another was inscribed the words, not the Little Bell. She 
had looked into several ports in quest of American frigates, 
and given a challenge to all vessels of her class. On the 
Constitution's heaving in sight, the British commander assem- 
bled his crew, pointed to them the object of their wishes, as- 
sured them of an easy victory, and being answered by three 
hearty cheers, backened sail, prepared for action, and await- 
ed her approach. The two ships continued manoeuvering to 
obtain the wealhergage of each other for three quarters of 
an hour, the Guerriere occasionally firing broadsides. The 
Constitution reserved her fire until within about four musket- 
shot, when she opened her broadsides in quick succession 
upon her antagonist. The mizen-mast of the Guerriere was 
directly carried away, and her decks were swept by a raking 
fire. In thirty minutes from the time the Constitution fairly 
got along side of her, every mast and spar was gone, and she 
lay an unmanageable wreck. The firing ceased, and she sur- 
rendered. She was so much damaged as to render it impos- 
sible to bring her into port, and the next day was cleared of . 

16 



122 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Coat. 6- 

the prisoners, and every thine; valuable, and set fire to and 
blown up. The damage sustained by the Constitution was of 
so little consequence, ihat she was prepared for action the 
next day. when anoll-er ship appeared in sight. The Con- 
stitution had seven 'i led, and the same number wounded; 
the Guerriere nini^teen killed and sixty wounded.* The news 
of this brilliar/t victory, 'he; first on the ocean, was received 
with rapturous applauses by the American people. Every 
mark of respect v/^?.s r'lown Commodore Hull, and his gallant 
officer;; and crew. Ciingross granted fifty thousand dollars 
to the crew fo.- the loss of thei:* prize, and the executive pro- 
moted several of heir officers. The event was as mortify- 
ing to the British, r /; giatifying to the Ameiicans, For thirty 
years they r.jve; had before lost a frigate in any thing like an 
equal contest. 

Cruise of the J^jsex. Cn the third of July, the frigate Es- 
sex, of thirty-two guns, Captain Porter, sailed from New- York. 
Proceeding southv/ard, she captured the brig Lamprey ; 
learning fror.i her'that the Thetis frigate was to have sailed 
ontlie 2Clh of Jiuie with specie, and a large convoy from the 
West indies to England, he made every exertion to fall in 
their way off St. Augustine as they came out of the gulf of 
Mexico. BeJFig prevented by contrary winds, he proceeded 
to the banks of Newfoundland, hoping to intercept them in 
that lulitud.', but withcut success. 

On the 1 7th of August, the sloop of war Alert, mistaking 
the Essex for the Hornet, bore up and commenced an attack. 
In eight minutes she found herself a prize to the Essex, and 
seven feet of water in her hold. Captain Porter, had now five 
hundred prisoners on boaid, which he had taken from difier- 
ent vessels on his cruise. In orde/ to disincumber himself, 
he repaired the Alert, threw her guns overboard, made a car- 
tel of her, put all his prisoners on board, and sent her to New- 
foundland. The prisoners were exchanged for an equal 

* Commodore HulFs letter to the secretary of the navj'. 



ini2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. jgS 

number of Americans ; and the Alert returned to the United 
vStates. On the first of September, the Essex fell in with, 
and was chased by a squadron of British frigates. She nar- 
rowly escaped, and arrived in the Delaware on the seventh.* 

Cruise of the Wasp. Captain Jones, of the slcop of war, 
Wasp, of sixteen guns, had retu!*ncd from France, two weeks 
after the declaration of wa • ; and on the 1 2th of October, sailed 
from the Delaware on a cruise. 

Capture of the Frolic. On the 1 8th, he fell in witK a convoy 
of six sail, under the protection of the Frolic, sloop of war, of 
twenty-two guns. On discovering the American, the Frolic 
fell back, and the engagement commenced at half past eleven, 
at sixty yards distance. In five minutes the main-topmast of 
the wasp was shot away, and falling with the sails and yards, 
across t;ie larboard fore and topsail, rendered her head yards 
unmanageable during the remainder of the action. The sea 
b. ng exceedingly rough, the muzzles of their guns were 
sometimes under water. '! he English fired as their vessel 
rose, and her shot principally went over. The Wasp fired as 
she sunk, and generally struck the lull of her antagonist. 
They were now so nigh, that in loading, their rammers reach- 
ed the side of the enemy. Captain Jones determined to 
board. The jib-bcom of the Frolic came in between the 
main and mizen rigg g of the Wasp, After giving a raking 
fire which swept the deck. Lieutenant Biddlc led on the 
boarders. On gaining the deck, they found no persons there 
except three officerii, and the seaman at the helm. The 
deck was slippery wilh blood, and presented a shocking scene 
•f carnage. The three officers threw down their swords 
in token of submission. The colours were still flying, there 
being no seamen left to pull them down. Lieutenant Biddle 
Leaped into the rigging and hauled them down with his own 
hands. After a most bloody conflict of forty-three minutes, 
complete possession was gained of the Frolic. The birth- 

* Captain Porter's letter to the secretary ©f the nary. 



124 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6. 

deck was crowded with dead, dying, and wounded. The masls 
soon fell, covering ihedead, and every thing on deck, and pre- 
senting a most melancholy spectacle. Captain Jones sent his 
own surgeon and medicines on board the Frolic, and afforded 
all the relief in his power. The Bi-itish loss was thirty killed 
and fifty wounded ; the American, five killed and five wounded. 
A few hours after the battle, and before Captain'Jones had 
made any preparation for sailing with his prize, the Poictiers, 
a British seventy-four, hove in sight, took possession of the 
Wasp and her prize, and sent them into Bermuda. 

Second Cruise of Commodore Rodgers'^s Squadron. On the 
8th of October, the squadron under Commodore Rodgers, 
which had been refitting at Boston, sailed from that port on 
a second cruise. On the 13th, the United States, and Argus 
parted from the others in a gale of wind. A few days after- 
wards, the President and Congress captured the British 
packet Swallow, with $200,000 in specie ; and on the 13th of 
December, returned to Boston, after a very successful cruise. 
The Argus, after a cruise of ninety-six days, returned to New- 
York with prizes to the amount of two hundred thousand 
dollars. 

Capture of the Macedonian, On the 25th of October, the 
United States, commanded by Commodore Decatur, oft' the 
Western Islands, lat. 29 N., Ion. 29 W., fell in with the 
British frigate Macedonian, rated at 38, mounting 49 guns, and 
after an action of an hour and a half, captured her. The 
Macedonian, having the advantage of the wind, chose her own 
distance, which was such that, for the first half hour, the 
United States could not use her carronades, and at no time 
was she within the complete effect of musketry and grape. 
In this action the superiority of the American gunnery was 
strikingly manifest. The Macedonian lost her mizen, main- 
top, and foremasts, and main yard, and was much damaged 
in her hull. She lost thirty-eight killed, and sixty-eight 
wounded. Her muster-roll contained the following entries of 
impressed American seamen. 



I8J2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 135 

Christopher Dodge, American, aged 32, pressed by the 
Thisbc, shipped in the Macedonian July 1st, 1810. 

Peter Johnson, American, aged 32, pressed by the Dedalus 
August 24th, 1810. 

John Alexander, of Cape Ann, aged 29, pressed by the 
Dedalus, entered August 25th, 1810. 

C. Dolphin, of Connecticut, aged 22, pressed by the Na- 
mur, entered August 4th, 1810. 

Major Cook, of Baltimore, aged 27, pressed by the Royal 
William, entered September 10th, 1810. 

William Thompson, of Boston, aged 20, pressed at Lisbon, 
entered Jan. 16th, 1811, drowned at sea in boarding an Ame- 
rican. 

John Wallis, American, aged 23, pressed by the Triton, en- 
tered February 16th, 1811, killed in action in the Macedo- 
nian. 

John Card, American, aged 27, pressed by the North Star, 
entered April 13th, 1811, killed in action in the Macedo- 
nian.* 

The United States lost only six killed and seven wounded, 
and suffered so little injury, that she might in a few hours 
have been prepared for another action. From the continued 
blaze of her guns, the United States was at one time supposed 
to be on fire by her antagonist, but she soon discovered her mis- 
take. The carpenter of the United States was killed in the 
conflict, and left three small children in the hands of a worth- 
less mother ; the crew, with the characteristic generosity of 
seamen, raised a fund of eight hundred dollars from their 
prize money, deposited it in safe hands, and devoted it to the 
education of the orphans. 

Commodore Decatur had on board his frigate a lad of 
twelve years old, the son of a brave seaman who had died 
and left his wife in poverty. As the Macedonian hove in 
"^ght, and the crew were clearing the ship for action, he ran 



* Mastet-roII of the Mafiedonian. 



1 26 HlSTORl OF TIIE LATE WARi Chap 6. 

up to the commodore, and said, " I wish my name may be put 
down on the roll.'' " Why so, my lad?" " So that I can have 
a share of the prize-money." His request was granted. After 
the Macedonian had struck the commodore said to him, " Well 
Bill, we have taken the ship, and your share of the prize mo- 
ney, if we get her safe in, may be about two hundred dollars j 
what will you do with it?" "J will send half to my mother, and 
the other half shall send me to school." Delighted with a spirit 
at once so noble and affectionate, the commodore took the lad 
under his protection, procured a midshipman's birth for him, 
and superintended his education. 

liiinieaiately after the surrender of his ship, Captain Car- 
den ascended the quarter-deck of the United States and pre- 
sented his sword to Commodore Decatur. The commodore, 
in a modest unassuming manner, replied, " I cannot receive the 
sword of a man who has so bravely defended his ship ; give 
me your hand, sir." Just before the commencemcntof the war, 
DecaturandCarden accidentally met in the harbour of Norfolk. 
"Commodore," said the Captain, " we now meet as friends; 
God grant we may never meet as enemies ; but we are subject 
to the orders of our governments, and must obey them." " I 
heartily reciprocate the sentiment," said Decatur. " But what, 
sir," said Garden, '• suppose we meet as enemies, what do you 
imagine would be the consequence to yourself and the force, 
you command." '"Why sir," said the hero of the Mediterranean, 
" if we meet with forces that might fairly be called equal, the 
conflict would be severe, but the flag of my country on the 
ship I command, shall never leave the staff' on which it waves, 
as long as there is a hull to support it." The next meeting of 
these heroes of the ocean, was on the quarter-deck of the 
United States. 

An arduous and important duty still remained for Commo- 
dore Decatur to perform ; to conduct his ship and his shat- 
tered prize to an American port, over an immense ocean, filled 
in almost every direction with powerful enemies. Although 



181g. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 127 

'the uniform politeness of the commodore to his brave enemy, 
made Captain Garden almost forget that he was a prisoner, 
yet he Avas not without strong hopes of being re-captured in 
the course of the voyage, and of seeing the American 
frigate and her prize enter a British port. But his wishes 
were not gratified. Commodore Decatur entered the harbour 
of New-London on the 4th of December, with his ship and 
prize in safety. Lieutenant Hamilton, son of the secretary 
of the navy, was the bearer of his despatches, and the flag of 
the Macedonian to Washington. He arrived on the evening 
of the 8th. It fortunately occurred that on that evening a 
ball was given in honour of the American navy. The beauty 
and fashion of the city, and much of the patriotism and talents 
of the republic, were drawn together on this occasion. It 
was suddenly announced, that the flag of another British 
frigate had arrived. Lieutenant Hamilton entered the hall. 
Commodores Hull and Stewart triumphantly waved the flag 
through the assembly, and pi^esented it to Mrs. Madison. 
The secretary of the navy, and his wife and daughter, were 
present, and received their son and brother with the warmest 
affection. 

In a few days, the United States, with her prize, proceeded 
to the harbour of New- York, for the purpose of having the 
latter ship repaired, and preparing for another cruise. The 
citizens complimented the commodore with an elegant and 
appropriate entertainment. A capacious hall was colonaded 
with masts of ships, with the flags of various nations suspended 
upon them. On each table was a miniature ship, displaying 
the American stripes. An area of twenty by ten feet was 
filled with water, in which a miniature of the United States 
frigate floated. A main-sail of thirty-three by sixteen feet 
was suspended in the rear of this artificial lake, upon which 
the American eagle was painted, holding in his beak a scroll 
with these words : our children are the property of our 
COUNTRY. One beautiful transparency represented the eagle 
holding in his mouth three medallions ; one inscribed, Hull 



128 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ^hap. 6. 

AND THE GuERRiERE ; another, Decatur and the Mace- 
donian; and the third, Jones and the Frolic. Another 
splendid figure represented the frigate Constitution taking the 
Guerriere, August 12th; the United States, the Macedonian, 
October 25th ; and the Wasp, the Frolic November 18th, 
1812. At this entertainment, the commodore had the satis- 
faction of meeting his friends and brothers in victory, Hull 
and Jones. 

The next day the corporation gave a dinner to the whole 
crew of the United States, in the same hall, ornamented in the 
same style. The miniature lake, in which the frigate floated 
yesterday, was to-day filled with the appropriate beverage 
of the guests, from which they drank to the toast, 
American ships all over the ocean ! 

The crew, exceeding four hundred, neatly dressed in blue 
jackets and trowsers, scarlet vests, and glazed hats, marched 
from the frigate to the hall in perfect order, to their favourite 
tune of Yankee Doodle, from the band of the Macedonian. 
The novelty of the scene attracted the attention, and drew 
forth the reiterated applauses of an immense concourse of 
spectators. At the close of the entertainment, the commo- 
dore, attended by his first lieutenant, W. H. Allen, entered 
the hall, and communicated to them the request of the 
managers of the theatre, that they would attend in the evening, 
and the whole pit was appj-opriated to their accommodation. 
" Sailors," said the commodore, " your orderly and decorous 
conduct this day gives me high satisfaction; continue it through 
the evening, and convince the hospitable and patriotic citizens 
of New- York, that you can maintain the same order in the 
midst of amusements, as you have done when sailing on the 
ocean, and conquering the enemy." The commodore's address 
was answered by the respectful salute of the crew : the 
Macedonian band again struck their favourite tune; and they 
marched in regular order to the theatre, enjoyed the entertain- 
ment, and returned to their ship exhibiting through the whole 
scene a perfect decorum of conduct, and the characteristic 



18K. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. igg^ 

good humour and pleasantry of the American sailor. The 
hberality of the managers was amply rewarded by a crowded 
audience of citizens, whom their singular exhibition had 
attracted to the theatre. 

Second Cruise of the Conslitution, On the return of the 
Constitution to port, after the capture of the Guerriere, Cap- 
tain Hull, at his request, was discharged from the command of 
her, and was succeeded by Commodore Bainbridge. In 
October she sailed in company with the Hornet, Captain 
Lawrence, from New-York, with orders to form a junction 
with the Essex, which sailed about the same time from the 
Delaware, and proceed to the Pacific ocean to destroy the 
British fisheries and commerce in that quarter. Adverse 
winds prevented the junction at the time and place appointed, 
and the Essex proceeded to the South Seas alone. 

Capture of the Java. On the 30th of December, the Con- 
stitution, having parted with the Hornet a few days before 
off the coast of Brazil, fell in with, and captured the British 
frigate Java, rated at 36, but mounting 49 guns, under the 
command of Captain Lambert. On descrying the frigate, Com- 
modore Bainbridge tacked and stood for her. At two o'clock 
P. M. they were within half a mile, and the action commenced 
with round and grape. At half past two, they were within 
good cannister distance, when the Constitution's wheel was 
shot away. Commodore Bainbridge now determined to close 
with her, and luffed up for that purpose, and in ten minutes the 
enemy's jib-boom got foul of the Constitution's mizen rig- 
ging, and immediately after his bow-sprit and jib-boom were 
shot away. At^fifteen minutes past three, the enemy were 
completely silenced, and his colours at the mast being down, 
it was supposed he had surrendered, and the Constitution 
shot ahead to repair. But it was soon discovered that the 
British colours were still flying, upon which the Constitution 
bore down upon her, and got close athwart her bows in an 
effectual position for raking, when her main-mast went by the 
board, and she lay an unmanageable wreck. Her colours 

17 



130 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAH. Chap.- 6. 

were now struck, and possession taken. Captain Lambert 
and sixty of his men were killed, and one hundred wounded. 
The Constitution lost nine killed, and twenty-five wounded. 
The great distance from the American coast, and the crippled 
situation of the prize, prevented her from biing brought in. 
After taking out the prisoners and baggage, she was set j&re 
to, and blown up. 

The Java was an important ship, fitted out in the com- 
pletest style, having on board Lieutenant General Hislop, 
Governor of Bombay, and staff, with a hundred supernu^ 
merary officers and seamen, for the supply of the British ships 
in the East Indian seas. She had also on board important 
despatches for St. Helena, the cape of Good Hope, and the 
British establishments in the Indian and Chinese seas. The 
prisoners were all landed, and left on their parole at St. Sal- 
vador, with permission to return to England, on condition of 
not serving against the United States until exchanged. After 
this battle, Commodore Bainbridge found it necessary to 
return to the United States, and arrived at Boston on the 8th 
of February. 

On his return, he writes to his friend, " That the Java was 
exceedingly well fought and bravely defended. Poor Lam- 
bert, whose death 1 sincerely regret, was a distinguished and 
gallant officer, and a worthy man. He left a widow and two 
helpless children; but his country makes provision for such 
events. We are now homeward bound. The damage the Con- 
stitution sustained in the action, and her decayed state, make 
it necessary for me to return to the United States for repairs. 
This I much regret ; my crew participate in (he sentiment. 
They are, however, consoling themselves with the hope of 
receiving their prize-money for the Guerriere on their return. 
You would be highly amused to hear these rough, though 
noble sons of Neptune, planning how they should spend their 
prize-money. One says, he will buy himself a snug little 
ship, on the highest hill, that he may thence, in his old age, 
view all our sea-fights. Another says, he will now marry 



S8I2. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 131 

his Poll. Another, that he will send his little Jack to school. 
Poor fellows ! I trust they will not be disappointed. Twice 
have they willingly and gallantly encountered the enemy, 
and twice have they succeeded. To return home now, and 
find they have nothing but a remnant of pay coming to them, 
would depress their spirits, and damp that noble ardour which 
they have hitherto felt and displayed. The officer may feel 
differently ; for the performance of his duty, he feels a reward 
in his own bosom, and in his country's thanks. Patriotism, and 
a laudable thirst for renown, will lead him to court perils, in 
defence of his country's rights. These feelings operate upon 
the sailor also ; but to keep up the high tone of his ardour, 
he must have prize-money in view. The schooner I am now 
despatching, a prize to the Hornet, will give to the treasury 
of the United States upwards of one hundred thousand dol- 
lars." 

Distribution of Prize-Money. The rule established by Con- 
gress for the distribution of prize-money arising from captures 
by national vessels, is, one half to the United States; the 
other is divided into twenty equal parts, and distributed in the 
following manner: 

To the captains . 3 

To the sea lieutenants and sailing-masters 2 

To the marine officers, surgeons, pursers, boatswains, gun- 
ners, carpenters, master's mates, and chaplains ... 2 
To midshipmen, surgeon's mates, captain's clerk, school- 
master, boatswain's mates, gunner's mates, carpenter's 
mates, steward, sail-makers, masters at arms, armourers, 

and cockswains 3 

To gunner's yeomen, boatswain's yeomen, quarter-masters, 
quarter-gunners, coopers, sail-maker's mates, sergeants, 
and corporals of marines, drummers and fifers, and extra' 

petty officers .3 

To seamen, ordinary s?araen, marines, and boys ... 7 

In captures made by national vessels, where the captureql 

vessel is of equal or superior force, the whole is given to the 



'132 HIiSTORY OF THE tATE WAR. €hap. fc 

crew. In the case of the Gucrriere and Java, where the 
pvizc was destroyed, because she could not be brought into 
port, Congress, by a special act, granted fifty thousand dol- 
lars for each capture; and in the case of the Frolic, to the 
crew of the wasp, twenty-five thousand. The United States 
also allow twenty dollars for each prisoner of war, made by 
private armed vessels. In captures made by privateers, 
where there is no contract regulating the distribution of prize- 
money, one half belongs to the owners, and the other is dis- 
tributed to the crew, according to the rules established in the 
case of public vessels. 

During the long period while the restrictive system was in 
operation, from 1807 to 1812, the enterprise, ships, and capi- 
tal of the American merchant had been inacti\e. 

Result of the Jiaval War in 1812. On the declaration of 
war, an extensive field opened for their operation. Numerous 
privateers were fitted out in the principal ports of the United 
States ; and British commerce in every quarter of the globe 
was made to feel the eft'ects of American bravery and enter- 
prise. Within four months after the declaration of war, there 
were fitted out, and sent to sea, from New-York, twenty-six 
privateers, carrying 212 guns, and 2239 men. Baltimore 
within the same period, sent out seventeen privateers, and 
twenty-five fast-sailing letters of marque schooners, denom- 
inated Baltimore flyers, carrying 330 guns, and 3000 men. 

By the close of the year 1812, embracing a period of about 
six months of war, the public and private armed vessels of 
the United States had captm'ed, and sent into port, or de- 
stroyed at sea, three hundred and nineteen British vessels; 
three of them frigates of the first class, others of them public 
armed ships, and the residue valuable merchantmen ; the 
whole value, estimating them on an average at ,'^40,000, a prize 
amounting to 12,680,000 dollars. 

From the eommencement of the war, Admiral Sir John B. 
Warren had been stationed with a powerful fleet along the 
coast in such manner as most eflcctually to intercept Ameri- 



1612: HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR, 133 

can vessels. But their skill and bravery eluded his vigi- 
lance, or withstood his attacks, and enabled them to enrich 
themselves with the spoils of their enemies, and to retaliate 
on them the injuries they had so long unresistingly borne. 

East Florida. The interior of East Florida is inhabited by 
Seminole Indians, runaway negroes, and fugitives from jus- 
tice from the neighbouring states, and forms a convenient asy- 
lum for the profligate of every description. This population 
subsist by plunder, and aided and supplied by the Spaniards 
at St. Augustine, had become the scourge and terror of the 
Georgia frontier. In January 1811, Congress, apprehensive 
that the British were about to take possession of the province, 
and that in their hands it would become a source of still 
greater evils to the United States, passed a law, authorizing 
the President, in case the local authorities would consent, or 
in case an attempt should be made to invade the province by 
any foreign power, to take possession of it in the name of the 
United States. General Matthews and Colonel M'Kee, were 
appointed commissioners to execute the provisions of this law. 
They were authorized, in case it was necessary, to call in aid 
the United States troops at the nearest station. On repairing 
to St. Augustine, the commissioners found the Spanish au- 
thorities altogether averse to surrendering the province to the 
United States, and no appearance of any attempt by the 
British to take possession. The commissioners, however, 
being citizens of Georgia, and believing that the safety of the 
frontier of that state required the measure, called in the force 
under Col. Smith, and took possession of Amelia Island, and 
other parts of the province. On being informed of this pro- 
ceeding, the President, on the 4th of April, 1812, revoked the 
powers of the commissioners, and appointed Governor Mitch- 
ell in their stead, and directed him to restore such parts as had 
been taken possession of by General Matthews, and giving 
him discretionary orders for the United States troops to evac- 
uate the territory, if in his opinion, the public safety would 
permit. This discretionary power in the hands of the gov- 



134 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6, 

ernor of Georgia, was equivalent to an express authority to 
detain the troops in the province. In his message to the 
legislature after his return,^Governor Mitchell observes, that 
the force at St. Augustine was of such a description that it 
could not be tolerated ; and that the peace and safety of the 
state would be hazarded if the occupancy of East Florida 
was relinquished or much longer delayed. The committee of 
the general assembly, to whom the message was referred, in 
their reply, say, " That though there has been no actual inva- 
sion of the state by a foreign force, yet a warfare has been 
commenced on the frontiers, and murders perpetrated under 
the sanction, or with the connivance of the governor of East 
Florida, and a savage warfare is still in operation under sanc- 
tion of that authority, which places the citizens immediately 
exposed to its effects, in such danger as admits of no delay. 
They therefore recommend that the state should immediately 
organize a sufficient force to occupy East Florida." 

Expedition of Colonel Newman. In consequence of these 
proceedings, on the 1 5th of August, Colonel Newman, adju- 
tant general of the Georgia militia, with a detachment of two 
hundred and fifty men, advanced into the province as far as 
St. Johns river, where he received the orders of Colonel 
Smith, commandant of the United States troops before St. Au- 
gustine, to proceed against the hostile Indians, and destroy 
their towns and provisions. On the eve of his departure, he 
received an express from Colonel Smith, informing him that his 
provisions, wagons, and the escort, were attacked by a body 
of Indians and negroes, and oi^dering him immediately to join 
him with a detachment of ninety men, and bring with him all 
the horses and carriages he could spare, for the removal of 
his baggage, artillery, and sick ; Colonel Smith having with 
him then only seventy men fit for duty. Colonel Newman, 
having accomplished this service, and assisted Colonel Smith 
in removing to the block-house on Davis's Creek as a place 
of greater safety, found that the time allotted for the expe- 
dition had so far been spent, that his men had but six days 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. J 35 

to serve. He proposed to them an extension of their service 
for twenty days longer. Only eighty-four of his men, includ- 
ing officers, volunteered ; these with 23 men furnished by 
Colonel Smith, made his whole force amount to one hundred 
and seventeen, supplied with four days provisions, and 
twelve horses. On the morning of the fourth day of their 
march, when within about six miles of the Lotchaway towns, 
the object of their expedition, they were attacked by a party 
of Indians, who kept up a constant firing upon them from be- 
hind the trees, until they were dislodged by the bayonet. 
The action lasted two hours and a half, the Indians frequently 
attempting to get into the rear of the Americans. About half 
an hour before sunset the enemy received a large reinforce- 
ment of Indians and negroes from the town, and renewed 
the attack. This action lasted until eight in the evening, 
when the Indians and negroes were repulsed and retired. 
After fasljng and fighting all day in the woods. Colonel New- 
man with his little band, had to w^ork all night to erect a 
breast work of logs for their safety. They were now fifty 
miles from any succours, destitute of provisions, and surround- 
ed with savages and negroes to the amount of more than four 
times their number. Captain Whitaker was despatched to 
St. Johns for provisions, and reinforcements. Six men, in- 
cluding their surgeon and pilot, went off" with them, taking 
six of their best horses. The situation of the detachment 
now became hopeless: they remained in this place eight days 
in a starving condition, without hearing from their expected 
supplies, the Indians attacking them every day after the two 
first. On the 9th they abandoned their fort ; all their remain- 
ing horses being killed, they were obliged to carry their 
wounded on their backs. Two hours after they left the fort 
twenty-five horsemen arrived with provisions for their relief; 
but, instead of following them, they returned to St. Johns. 
After marching about five miles, they were again attacked by 
the Indians, and four of their number killed. They then 
charged the Indians and drove them from the field with the 



1 36 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6' 

bayonet, and remained all night on the balUe ground. The 
next day they marched five miles, and again threw up a 
breast-work, subsisting upon alligators, and palmeto stalks ; 
here they remained surrounded and frequendy attacked by the 
Indians and negroes, until a relief arrived with provisions and 
horses, by which they were enabled to reach St. Johns, with 
their sick and wounded, where they found a gun-boat in wait- 
ing, by order of Colonel Smith, to convey them to his camp.*" 
Proposition by Mr. Russell to the British Government for an 
Armistice. On the 1 0th of May, 1812, the French minister com- 
municated to Mr. Barlow, the American minister at Paris, a de- 
cree of the French emperor, bearing date the 28th of April, 
181 1, announcing thatthedecreesofBerlinand Milan are defini- 
tively repealed, and to the date of the preceding first of Novem- 
ber, considered as not existing in regard to American vessels. 
Mr. Barlow immediately despatched a special messenger, 
with a copy of this decree to Mr. Russell, and on tjie 21st of 
May, Mr. Russell communicated it to the British minister. 
On the 23d of June, an order in council was passed, declaring 
that the orders of the 7th of January, 1807, and of the 26th 
of April, 1809, were revoked, so far as related to American 
vessels and cargoes, from the 1st of the succeeding August. 
It was also further declared, that as British armed vessels, by 
sundry acts of the American government, were excluded 
from the waters of the United States, and the armed vessels 
of France admitted ; and as the commercial intercourse 
between Great Britain and the United States was interdicted, 
and that between France and America restored, unless the 
American government, on receiving notice of this revocation, 
should place Great Britain on the same footing as France, in 
these respects the revocation was to be annulled. The order 
also provided that the prince regent should not be precluded, 
if circumstances should require it, from restoring the orders 
in council, or from taking such other measures of retaliation 



+ Colonel Newman's letter to Governor Mitchell. 



1812: HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, I37 

against the French, as might appear to his royal highness 
just and necessary. 

^ On the 24th of August, Mr. Russell, by order of the Presi- 
dent, proposed an armistice, to commence at or before the 
expiration of sixty days from the date of the instrument pro- 
viding for it, on condition that the orders in council be repeal- 
ed, no illegal blockades substituted in their stead, and that 
orders be immediately given to discontinue the practice of 
impressment, and for the restoration of persons already im- 
pressed : it being understood that the British government 
will assent to enter into definite arrangements on all other 
subjects of difference by treaty as soon as may be. As an 
inducement to the British government to discontinue the prac- 
tice of impressment, Mr. Russell was directed to give assu- 
rances that a law should be passed to prohibit the employ- 
ment of British seamen in the public or commercial vessels of 
the United States. 

•^ Reply of Lord Castlereagh. In a note of the 29th of 
August, Lord Castlereagh replied, " that the diplomatic rela- 
tions between the two governments terminated by the decla- 
ration of war ; yet under the peculiar circumstances of the 
present case, he had been induced to submit Mr. Russell's 
propositions to the prince regent, and had his orders to inform 
him, that they were on various grounds inadmissible. He 
further stated, that immediately on the revocation of the 
orders in council, the British admiral on the American station 
had orders to propose to the government of the United States 
an immediate and reciprocal revocation of all hostile orders, 
with an offer to give full effect, in such an event, to the pro- 
visions of said order on the conditions therein specified. In 
the present state of the relations between the two countries, 
thie operation of the order of the 23d of June last could only 
be defeated by a refusal on the part of the American govern- 
ment to desist from hostihties, or to comply with the condi- 
tions expressed in the order." 

18 



138 BISTORY ©F THE LATE WAR. Chap. ©. 

He further remarked, " that it was junexpecled that the 
American government should demand as a preHminary, even 
(o the suspension of hostilities, that the British government • 
should desist from its ancient and accustomed practice of im- 
jpressing British seamen from the merchant ships of a foreign 
state, simply on the assurance, that a law should be passed to 
prohibit the employment of British seamen in the public 
or commercial vessels of such state : that the British govern- 
ment is now, and ever has been ready, to receive from the 
American, and amicably discuss, any proposition which pro- 
fesses to have in view, either to check abuse in the practice 
of impressment, or to accomplish by means less liable to vex- 
ation, the object for which impressment has hitherto been 
found necessary. But they cannot consent to suspend the 
exercise of aright, on which the naval strength of the empire 
mainly depends, until they are fully convinced, that means 
Ran be devised, and will be adopted, by which the object can 
be effectually secured. • 

Second Proposition. On the 12th of September, Mr. Rus- 
sell, by order of his government, submitted another set of 
propositions to the British ministry, on the subject of the sus- 
pension of hostilities. Thai a convention for that purpose 
should be entered into, to take effect at such time as should 
be mutually agreed on, and stipulating that each party should 
forthwith appoint commissioners, with full powers to form a 
treaty, which should provide, by reciprocal arrangements, for 
the security of their seamen, from being taken or employed in 
the service of the other power, for the regulation of their 
commerce, and all other interesting questions between them ; 
and that the armistice should not cease without such previous 
notice as should be agreed on, and should be understood to 
have no other effect, than to suspend military operations by 
sea and land. " It was necessary," Mr. Russell said, " in ac- 
ceding to this proposition to come to a clear understanding on 
the subject of impressment, embracing a discharge of American 
seaman already impressed, without having the arrangement 



1815. HISTORY OF THE LATE WA«. 139 

in a formal shape, and also on the subject of future blockades, 
the revocation of the orders in council being confirmed." 
• Reply, To these propositions Lord Castlereagh replied,' 
" that he saw no material difference between them and those 
of the 24th of August. These now sought to accomplish in 
a covert and disguished manner, what the other openly re- 
quired, and were on that account, the more exceptionable. 
Thatthe subject of impressment was of much greater magnitude 
and difficulty than Mr. Russell apprehended : that if America 
wished to get rid of the war, the revocation of the orders in 
council gave her an opportunity, and according to the armis- 
tice which Admiral Warren was authorized to propose, the 
object would be accomplished."* 

Here the correspondence, and all the negotiations at Lon- 
don for the suspension of hostilities, ended, and Mr. Russell 
immediately embarked for the United States. 

Proposition to the American Government by Admiral Warren 
for an Armistice. On the 30th of September, Admiral War- 
ren, by order of his government, addressed a note to the 
American secretary of state, enclosing the British order in 
council of the 23d of June, and proposing the immediate 
cessation of hostihties between the two countries, on the fol- 
lowing terms : 

" That America should immediately recall her letters of 
marque and reprisal, with all orders and instructions for 
any acts of hostility against the territory, persons, or property 
of his majesty's subjects : that on receiving official assu- 
rances to that effisct, all acts of hostility should cease against 
the ships, persons, and property of the United States : that 
should the American government accede to this proposition, 
he was authorized to make arrangements with them for the 
repeal of the laws interdicting the commerce and ships of 
war of Great Britain from the ports of the United States. 

* Correspondence between Mr. Rusfeell and Lord Castlereagh- 



J 40 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6. 

li) default of which repeal in a reasonable time, the orders 
in council would be revived." 

Reply of Ihe Secretary of State. In reply to these propo 
sitions, the American secretary stated, " that it would be very 
satisfactory to the President, to meet the British government 
in such arrangements as may terminate, with the least possible 
delay, the hostilities between the two countries, on terms hon- 
ourable to both. At the moment of the declaration of war, 
the President gave signal proof of the attachment of the 
United States to peace ; as at that early period, instructions 
were given to the late charge des atl'aires at London, to pro- 
pose an armistice which it was presumed would be satisfac- 
tory. It has been seen with regret, that the propositions 
made through him, particularly in regard to the important 
subject of impressment, were rejected, and that none were 
offered through that channel as a basis on which hostilities 
might cease. Experience has proved that no peace can be 
durable unless that subject is provided for. It is presumed, 
therefore, that it is equally the interest of both countries to 
adjust it at this time. 

" The claim of the British government is to take from the 
merchant vessels of other countries, British subjects. In the 
practice, the commanders of British ships of war often take 
from the merchant vessels of the United States, American 
citizens. If the United States prohibit the employment of 
British subjects in their service, and enforce the prohibition by 
suitable regulations and penalties, the motive for the practice 
is done away. It cannot be conceived on what ground such 
an arrangement can be refused.^ A suspension of the prac- 
tice pending the armistice, seems to be a necessary conse- 
quence. It cannot be presumed, that while the parties are 
engaged in negotiation to adjust this important difference, the 
United States would admit the right, or acquiesce in the prac- 
tice, or that Great Britain would be unwilling to restrain her 
cruisers from a practice that would defeat the negotiation. 
If the British government is willing to suspend the practice 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 141 

of impressment, on consideration that the United States will 
exclude British seamen from their service, the regulations by 
which the compromise should be carried into effect, would be 
solely the subject of negotiation. The armistice would be 
of short duration : if the parties agreed, peace would be the 
result ; if not, each would be restored to its former pretensions, 
by recurring to war. 

" The President desires that the war between the two coun- 
tries should be terminated on such conditions as may secure 
a durable peace. To accomplish this great object, it is ne- 
cessary that the subject of impressment should be satisfacto- 
rily arranged. He is willing Great Britain should be secured 
against the evils of which she complains. He asks, on 
the other hand, that the citizens of the United States 
should be protected against a practice, which, while it de- 
grades the nation, deprives the citizens of their rights as free* 
men, takes them by force from their families and their coun- 
try, and drags them into a foreign service, to fight the* battles 
of a foreign power, perhaps against their own kindred and 
country. 

" The orders in council having been repealed, and no illegal 
blockades revised or instituted in their stead, and an under- 
standing having been obtained on the subject of impressment, 
the President is willing to agree to a cessation of hostil- 
ities, with a view to arrange by treaty, in a more distinct 
and ample manner, and to the satisfaction of both parties, 
every other subject of controversy. If there be no objec- 
tion to an accommodation on this subject in the mode pro- 
posed, other than a suspension of the practice during the ar- 
mistice ; there can be none to proceeding without an armistice 
to an immediate discussion and arrangement of an article upon 
that subject. This great question being satisfactorily adjust- 
ed, the way will be open, either for an armistice, or any other 



142 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 6. 

course leading most conveniently and expeditiously to a gen- 
eral pacification."* 

This correspondence terminated all attempts to effect a 
cessation of hostilities. The orders in council being repealed, 
the only remaining subject of controversy was impressment, 
and on this the belligerents determined to maintain their 
respective claims at the hazard of war. The views of the 
American government, in continuing the war solely on the 
ground of impressment, were, that this was a point which 
could never be yielded by an independent nation ; that having 
taken up arms in a case where this stood as one of the prom- 
inent causes, to make peace without a satisfactory arrange- 
ment on this head, and while the practice was suffered to con- 
tinue, was in effect abandoning the principle, and with it one 
of their most valuable national rights. On the other hand, 
the British considered their naval power, and as they were 
then situated, their national existence, at hazard, by abandon- 
ing their claim, and would agree to no armistice where a sus- 
pension of the practice must be the preliminary. 

* Mr. Monroe's letter to Sir J. B. Warren. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Second Session of the Twelfth Congress.— Report of the Committee of 
Foreign Relations, — Law prohibiting the employment of Foreign 
Seamen. — Report of the Committee on Military Affairs. — Debates on 
the expediency of continuing, and manner of conducting the War. — 
Army Bills passed. — Report of Committee on Naval Affairs. — Com- 
parison between Seventy-Fours and Frigates. — Dry Dock recom- 
mended. — Navy Bills passed. — Treasury Estimates. — Report of Com- 
mittee of Ways and Means. — Revenue Bills passed. — Remission of 
Penalties on Goods imported after the revocation of the Orders in 
Council. — Law authorizing Retaliation passed. 

Meeting of Congress. After a recess of four months, the 
twelfth Congress commenced their second session on the 2d 
of November, 1812. 

Message. In his message, at the opening of the session, 
the President informed them of the steps he had taken 
towards a pacification ; of the failure of the negotiation for 
that purpose; recommended a prosecution of the war with 
increased vigour, and proposed a variety of measures adapted 
to that object. That part of the message which related to 
the prosecution of the war, and the documents, relating to 
the negotiations, were referred to the committee of foreign 
relations. The most interesting question that agitated Con- 
gress and the people of the United States during this ses- 
sion, was, whether the war should continue solely on the 
ground of impressments? Though this constituted one of its 
prominent causes, yet, no doubt, had the repeal of the orders 
in council taken place, and been known in the United States 
before its commencement, impressment alone would not have 
induced the war, but that question would have remained a 
subject of further negotiation. 

Report of the Committee of Foreign Relations in favour of 
continuing the War. On this point, Mr. Grundy, of Tennes- 



3 44 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 7. 

see, from the committee of foreign relations, reported, that 
almost on the same day on which war was declared, the Bri- 
tish government had conditionally repealed their orders in 
council, and thereby removed one great obstacle to accom- 
modation. That the only remaining subject of dispute be- 
tween the two countries was impressment. That an offer 
had been made to the British government, to provide a sub- 
stitute, which should be an ample equivalent; that one had 
been proposed which was definite in its object, and of a cha- 
racter so comprehensive, as ought to have been entirely 
satisfactory, but that it had not been accepted. The British 
government had ever refused to come to any arrangement 
upon the subject. It now became the duty of Congress, to 
declare, in terms the most decisive, that should they still de- 
cline, the United States will never acquiesce in the practice, 
but resist it unceasingly and with all their force. " It is not 
now necessary," the committee observe, " to inquire what the 
course would have been, had the orders in council been re- 
pealed before the declaration of war, or how long the prac- 
tice of impressment would have been borne, in the hope that 
the repeal of the orders in council would have been followed 
by a satisfactory arrangement upon that subject. War hav- 
ing been declared, and the cause of impressment being ne- 
cessarily included as one of the most prominent causes, it 
must be provided for in the pacification. The omission of it 
in a treaty of peace, would not leave it on its former ground. 
It would in effect, be an absolute abandonment of the princi- 
ple. The seamen of the United States have a claim on their 
country for protection, and they must be protected. Impress- 
ment is an evil which must not and cannot be longer tole- 
rated. It is in the highest degree degrading to the United 
States as a nation, incompatible with their sovereignty, and 
subversive of the main pillars of their independence. Their 
forbearance has been mistaken for pusillanimity. The Bri- 
tish pretension was fast maturing into a right; and should 
resistance be longer delayed, it would soon become one. 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 145 

In order to remove all ground for the continuance of the 
war, and to place Great Britain manifestly in the wrong, the 
report concludes with recommending a bill prohibiting the 
employment of foreign seamen in the public or private 
vessels of the United States, after the termination of the 
present war, under heavy penalties, and providing that the 
lists of the crews of merchant vessels be exhibited, and re- 
corded in the office of the collectors of the several ports, and 
that the consuls and agents of foreign powers might have 
free access to such records, and a fair opportunity to object 
to the shipping of any individuals whom they claimed as 
belonging to their nation. 

Law to exclude Foreign Seamen. In pursuance of this re- 
commendation, a law was enacted embracing these provisions, 
applicable to those nations only who should adopt similar 
regulations and discontinue the practice of impressment. It 
T»as confidently hoped, that when an act was passed, which 
should give a better security against the employment of their 
seamen than the practice of impressment, the British govern- 
ment would be willing to abandon it. But they viewed it 
in a very different light. British seamen came into the Uni- 
ted States, either by shipping themselves on board American 
vessels in British ports, or by deserting from British vessels 
in American ports. While they remained within the territory 
of the United States, they could not be reclaimed, and de- 
livered to the British authorities. Merely refusing to employ 
them on board American vessels, left them on American 
ground free to engage in other pursuits, and did not restore 
them to the British nation. In their estimation, then, the law 
afforded a very imperfect and inadequate remedy for the evils 
of which tney complained. Indeed in the present state of 
the British marine, such a law was by no means a desirable 
object to them ; as by prohibiting the employment of British 
seamen in American vessels, it precluded the opportunity of 
impressing them. This refusal of the British government to 
restore impressed Americans, and to accept the proposition 

19 



I4G HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1. 

to exclude their seamen from the merchant and naval service 
of the United States, in the opinion of the committee, war- 
lanted the conclusion that they were determined to man their 
navy in violation of the dearest rights of American citizens,^ 
and justified a continuation of the war. No accommodation 
was effected, and this point still remained to be settled by the 
sword. 

Report of the Committee on Military Affairs* Mr. Williams, 
of North Carolina, from the committee on military affairs, re- 
ported a bill for the increase of the army twenty the; .sand 
men, making the whole permanent military establishment fifty- 
six thousand. 

Debates on the War Bills. In the discussion of these re- 
j)orts, the speakers on either side, took a wide range on the 
general subject of the war, on the expediency and necessity 
of contiiiuing it, on the objects to be obtained, and the man- 
ner of conducting it. Mr. Williams, in introducing the army 
bill, fully explained the views of the military committee. 
' Two great objects," he said, " were to be obtained by the 
military force proposed to be raised : of>e, the complete de- 
fence of the country ; the other, offensive War, the object of 
which was to make the enemy feel that it had become hi? 
interest to abstain from oppression and plunder. For defence, 
the jurisdictional limits of the United States should be divided 
into military districts | each district to be intrusted to an in- 
telligent officer of high grade, who should have under his 
command certain portions of the artillery and infantry of the 
regular army, with instructions to call in aid the adjacent 
militia, as there should be occasion. That a corps of flying 
artillery should be established on the sea-board, which could 
be rapidly directed to the most exposed points. That a skil- 
ful engineer should be appointed, and directed to devise plans, 
and superintend the erection of such works of defence as 
might be necessary." He then proceeded to enumerate the 
military districts, and the least number of troops to be allotted 
10 each, making an aggregate often thousand, for the defence 



mi HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. I47 

of the country. Mr. Williams next called the attention ol' 
the house to the East Florida frontier. " Danger," he stated, 
" there already exists. In its present state it was improvea- 
ble by an enemy to the essential injury of the United States. 
It was perfectly within the control of the British for every 
military purpose, and no greater force would be required for 
the United States to occupy it, than would be necessary to 
guard that frontier if they did not. It ought therefore, as a 
measure of precaution, to be occupied." 

In /avow. On the subject of offensive war, he remarked, 
" that the British regular force in the Canadas could not be 
estimated at less than twelve thousand men. In addition to 
these, were the Canadian militia, amounting to several thou- 
sand, and three thousand regulars at Kalifax. To drive this 
force from the field, the St. Law-'cnce must be crossed 
with a well appointed army of t«^enty thousand men, sup- 
ported by an army of reserve n ten thousand. Peace is not 
to be expected but at the ex,''^'^''^ of vigorous and succ-essful 
war. Administration hav- in vain sued for it, even at the 
expense of the sarcastic sneers of the British minister. The 
campaign of 1813 mu't be opened in a style of vigour, cal- 
culated to inspire confidence in ourselves, and awe in 
the enemy. Nor'iing must be left to chance ; our movements 
must every wl>-*''e be in concert. At the same moment, we 
move on C^-'ada, a corps of ten thousand men must threaten 
Halifax f-om )-he province of Maine. 

" T-^e honour and character of the nation require that the 
Bri-i'sh power on our borders should be annihilated the next 
rampaign. Her American provinces once wrested from her, 
every attempt to recover them will be chimerical, except by ne- 
gotiation. Theroad to peace then lies through Canada. Once 
possessed of Canada, an honourable peace is secured. The 
disasters of the last campaign, owing to the cowardice of one 
officer, and the inexperience of others, forbid the permanent 
employment of the militia or volunteers for the purposes of 



1 48 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chai- ?• 

war, and ought to stimulate to new and more vigorous exer- 
tions with improved means." 

Against. The views of the advocates of peace were ably 
cxplained and defended by Mr. Quincy, of Massachusetts, in a 
speech on the army bill. " This bill," he observed, " proposed 
to augment the army by an addition of twenty thousand men : 
this extension would raise the army to fifty-five thousand. 
The committee of foreign relations have stated that the exist- 
ing military establishment is sufficient for all the pur- 
poses of defence. This new army is professedly intended 
for the conquest of Canada. This he would consider, first, 
on its own merits, and secondly, as the means of obtaining 
peace. It was the deliberate, confirmed opinion of that por- 
tion of the Union, thatbe represented," Mr. Quincy observed, 
" that the invasion of Canada was cruel, wanton, senseless, and 
wicked •, that for the offences of a people in the other hem- 
isphere, we should visit with fire and sword an innocent and 
unoffending people in our neighbourhood, connected with us 
by numerous acts of friendly intercourse. Antecedent 
to this war, there subsisted betwen Canada and the United 
States an intercourse of the most ahjable and interesting 
nature. The people on both sides of th» St. Lawrence were 
but as one family, intermarrying, and hvii/j in the constant 
reciprocation of friendly offices. As enemog, there was 
nothing to fear from them. Seven millions cottr| have no- 
thino- to apprehend from half a million. Like i^e giant 
crushing the pigmy, there was no glory to be obtaine^in the 
conquest. Nor could it in any degree affisct Great Britai. ta 
our advantao-e. It was our invasion of Canada, which gavv 
new strength to the British ministry at the late election. The 
British nation were willing to support America in principle ; 
but when they saw in the first onset, the war was carried 
ao-ainst their harmless colonists, sympathy enlisted them on 
their side, and produced such an effect at the elections as ml^ht 
he expected. 



1.812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. I49 

" He would next consider the invasion of Canada as the 
means of obtaining peace. In that view it is addressed to the 
fears of Great Britain. The history of that country, from its 
earliest period, has always evinced that she was not operated 
upon by threats. She always sacrifices the present to the 
future, meets danger half way, and yields nothing to menaces. 
If Great Britain saw that this was a threat we meant to exe- 
cute, and was sure the conquest of Canada would be effected ; 
just in proportion as she was sure of that, in the same pro- 
portion would the chance of accommodation with her be: 
diminished."* 

The general principles advocated by Mr. Williams and 
others in favour of war, and the measures recommended by 
the committees of foreign relations and military affairs, were 
undoubtedly well calculated to accomplish the object. Could 
a well appointed army of twenty thousand effective men have 
crossed the St. Lawrence early in the spring of 1813, sup- 
ported by a reserve often thousand, Canada must haye fallen 
that season. But the difference between an army, as it 
appears in the debates and acts of Congress, where the ranks 
lare to be filled by voluntary enlistment, and an army in the 
field, is immense. The requisite officers of every grade were 
readily found, but the total failure of the recruiting service 
presented the mere skeleton of an army in the field. The 
proposed measures were adopted by large majorities ; and 
laws were consequently passed, authorizing the increase of 
the regular army by an addition of twenty thousand men, rais- 
ing ten additional companies of rangers, appointing six addi- 
tional rtiajor generals, and six additional brigadiers, and 
increasing the number of officers of the subordinate grades, 
and giving higher bounties to recruits. 

The military occupation of East Florida, as recommended 
by Mr. Williams, was viewed by Congress as an act of direct 
hostility against Spain, and prematurely and unadvisedly 



i Debates in congress, January 1813, 



150 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 7. 

making her a party to the war. Though her territories in 
the Floridas might be improved by the British to the disad- 
vantage of the United States, yet the majority of Congress 
seem disposed to wait until some act of Spain, manifestly 
violating American rights, should justify the measure. 

Report of Naval Committee. The committee on naval 
affairs, with the aid of the secretary of the navy, and some of 
the most experienced naval officers, took an extensive view 
of the subject of naval defence, and made an able and lucid 
report ; in which they stated, " that for the defence of the 
coast, and the protection of commerce, a respectable navy 
wras necessary: that although it was not desirable, nor 
within the power of the United States, to create a navy 
which should be able to meet the collected force of Britain 
on the ocean, yet such a navy might and ought to be pro- 
vided, as would be adequate to guard the coast, and protect 
commerce : that Great Britain could not with safety, at any 
one time, send to the American station a considerable portion 
of her navy. The protection of her own waters forbade it. 
While they had no access to the ports of the United States, 
and received no supplies from them, the expenses of supply- 
ing their ships would be enormous. They remarked that it 
would take a much less force to guard, than to assail the 
coast. That for the purpose of defence, some vessels of a 
larger size must be provided. While the British had ships of 
jhe line on the coast, frigates must not be altogether depended 
,on. The same force in a number of frigates would not be 
sufficient to attack a seventy-four; the heavier metal of the 
fatter would probably enable her to sink or destroy the for- 
pier with but partial injury to herself. 

Comparison between Seventy-fours and Frigates. They next 
proceeded to give a comparative estimate of the value in 
service, and of the expense of building, seventy-fours and 
frigates. According to an estimate of the secretary of the 
navy, detailed with great minuteness, the force of three frigates 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 151 

would not be more than equal to one seventy-four. The ex- 
pense of building and equipping a frigate of forty-four guns, 
taken from the actual cost of the President, was $220,910. 
The cost of a seventy-four, $333,000. The annual expense 
of keeping a frigate of that size in service, was estimated at 
$110,000; and that of a seventy-four at $210,110. The 
result from these calculations, was, that while the expenses of 
a seventy-four were something less than that of two frigates 
of forty-four guns, her value in service was equal to three. 

When engaged in War with a distant maritime power, ships 
of the line were best calculated to defend the coast, and pro- 
tect the inward and outward bound commerce. Without 
them, the first object of such an enemy wotild be to restrain 
American frigates and cruisers, from leaving our harbours, 
and preying on their commerce. By keeping their large 
ships, parading On the coast, threatening the most exposed 
towns, preventing the departure of small cruisers, capturing 
what small portion of commerce may have escaped their 
cruisers on the ocean, and recapturing such as they have lost, 
they are able to carry on a warfare, easy and profitable to 
themselves, and destructive to their enemies. 

Should a more important object present itself, they could 
withdraw their ships for a time without great hazard, and 
return in season to shut out those cruisers with their prizes, 
that might have gone out in their absence. They would be 
able at all times to consult their own convenience in point of 
time and numbers, and need incur no expense and risk of 
transport, but can go and procure their supplies at pleasure 
before their absence is known to their enemy. 

To prevent these evils, the American navy ought, in the 
opinion of the committee, to consist of a mixed force, of ships 
of the line, frigates of forty and thirty-two guns, and corvettes 
of sixteen. The inner squadron, or guarda costa, to be com- 
posed of the ships of the line, and a few smaller frigates, and 
corvettes for look-out vessels. " Such a defence," the commit- 
tee remark, " must produce one of two results ; either the 



1 52 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 1. 

enemy would be obliged to abandon the coast, or bring on 
a force at least double that of the Americans, at all the haz- 
ards of leaving their own waters unprotected, and maintaining 
their shijis at sea without harbours for shelter, and at the 
great expense and risk of provisioning and watering them by 
transports. If, under these disadvantages, they should be 
unable to maintain a superiority on the coast, the door will 
be kept open for the ingress and egress of cruisers with their 
prizes, and the small classes of ships may be sent in pursuit 
«f the cruisers and commerce of the enemy." 

D>-ij Docks. " The committee also recommend a dry 
dock, into which vessels may be introduced and the water 
then taken out by drains and pumps, as indispensable for 
repairing large ships. Without the aid of such a dock, a 
ship of wai wanting repairs to her bottom, or that is in need 
of coppering, must be turned down on her side to undergo 
that repair ; to prepare her for this operation, her upper 
masts must be taken down, her guns, stores, water-casks, 
ballast, and ammunition taken out, which occasions a great 
Avaste and loss of time and labour. The preparation to dock 
a ship requires but a few hours. All that is necessary is to 
take out her guns, and to pump the water out of her water- 
casks, and when docked, the repairs of her bottom can pro- 
gress on both sides at the same time. Ships wanting thorough 
repair, require all the planks to be stripped off, and their 
beams, knees, and clamps taken out; these are all they have 
to bind their frames together, and thereby preserve their 
shape ; when stripped of them to make room for new, the\'- 
are liable, if in the water, to hog, from the greatest weight 
and body of timber being in the fore and after ends, at which 
places there is no pressure upwards caused by the water : as 
these ends are sharp, the two extremities of the ship are liable 
to sink in the water, while the body or middle of the ship rises 
with the upward pressure of the water, something in the form 
of a hog's back. Another consideration is, that the bolting 
of a ship ought to be driven from the outside, but when re- 



1812. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1 53 

paired afloat, they must by driven from the inside, and are 
neither so strong, nor so well secured. These considerations 
induced gentlemen best acquainted with naval affairs strongly 
to recommend the establishment of a dry dock for repairing 
ships of war. 

The unparalleled success of the infant navy of the United 
States had inspired a universal confidence in that mode of 
warfare, and rendered every measure for the increase of the 
aavy popular. The views of the committee, of the secretary 
of the navy, and of Captains Stewart, Hull, and Morris, who 
assisted with their communications in making the report, were 
•fully supported in Congress, in relation to the nature and in- 
<:rease of the naval force. Four seventy-fours, six additional 
forty-fours, and six sloops of war, were ordered to be built, 
and put in commission immediately. As large a force also 
on the lakes was ordered to be provided, as was calculated 
would be sufficient to establish the ascendency in that quarter. 
But unfortunately for the interests of the United States, this 
maritime force appeared only on the journals of Congress. 
The most numerous and expensive part of their real navy, 
consisted of one hundred and sixty gun-boats seeking their 
own safety in the creeks and shoals of the coast. The crea- 
tion of a navy was found to be a work of time, and before it 
could be accomplished, the evils which it was destined to 
prevent, were realized. 

Treasury Estimates. The treasury estimates of expendi- 
tures for the year 1813, were. 
For the civil list, and interest, and reimburse- 
ment of a part of the principal of the public 

debt, ,'^8,500,000 

For the army, not including the new levies, . . 17,000,^000 
For the navy, not including the proposed in- 
crease, 4,925,000 

$30,425,000 
20 



1o4- HISTORY GF THE LATE, WAR. Chat, 7. 

Tbe appropriations actually made for the service of the 
year, were, 

Civil department and miscellaneous services, . ^1,500,000 
Military, including unexpended balances, . , 21,500,000 
Naval, including the proposed increase, .... 8,500,000 

Public debt, , , 8,000,000 

Additional naval officers, 350,000 

Bounties to the erews of Constitution and Wasp, 125,000 



$39,975,000 
Fifty thousand dollars were ordered to be paid to the offi- 
cers and crew of the Constitution, for the destruction of the 
Guerriere, and the like sum for the destruction of the Java. 
Twenty-five thousand dollars were given to the officers and 
crew of the Wasp, for the capture of the Frolic. An act 
was afeo passed declaring it to be lawful for any persons to 
burn, sink, or destroy any British armed vessels, by torpe- 
does, submarine instruments, or any other destructive ma- 
chine, and giving a bounty to the amount of one half the 
value of such vessel, armament, apparel, and cargo, to any 
persons who should accomplish their destruction. 

The committee of ways and means, reported an estimate 
of the whole revenue exclusive of loans, to amount to twelve 
millions : that the residue of the appropriations should be 
supplied by loans ; for this purpose, that a loan of twenty- 
one millions was necessary ; ten of which was to be obtained 
by issuing treasury notes to that amount, bearing an interest 
of five and two-fifths per cent. These were calculated to 
supply in some measure a circulating medium, to be issued 
for the purchase of supplies, and payment of the troops, or 
sold in market. The remaining eleven millions were to be 
obtained by creating and selling in market. United Slates' 
stock, bearing an interest of six per cent., and reimbursable 
in twelve years. The stock not to be sold at a greater dis- 
count than at the rate of eighty-eight dollars cash for ont? 
Jiundred dollars stock. 



JS12. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1 55 

Merchants^ Bonds discharged. Immediately after the re- 
voca-tion of the orders in council, American merchants pur- 
chased in England, goods to the amount of nearly forty mil- 
lions, and shipped them to the United States on the presump- 
tion that the non-importation law would be repealed. The 
declaration of war having prevented the repeal, these goods 
were liable to be seized and condemned on their arrival in 
the American ports. In several instances, American priva- 
teers, falling in with vessels laden with these goods, took 
possession of them, and sent them in as prizes. The custom- 
house officers, under the direction of the secretary of the 
treasury, seized these goods, and libelled them in the mari- 
time courts. The goods, by order of the courts, were released 
to the owners, upon their giving bonds to pay the appraised 
value of them, into the treasury of the United States. The 
claims of the owners of the privateers, to those that were 
captured and sent in, was at once disallowed by the court. 
Application was made to Congress at an early period of the 
session, for a discharge of those bonds and a remission of the 
forfeitures incurred. The duties on these importations would 
amount to nearly ten millions, and afford a very seasonable 
aid to the treasury. The application was favourably receiv- 
ed, and an act passed discharging the bonds, and the penal- 
ties incurred, upon the payment of the duties and costs arisen 
on the prosecutions. 

It was an essential part of the system of finance proposed 
at the commencement of the war, to provide for the punc- 
tual payment of the interest on the war loans, by a system of 
internal duties and direct taxes. This was absolutely neces- 
sary to support public credit, and render future loans ob- 
tainable on any reasonable terms. No receipt of any conse- 
quence could be calculated upon at the treasury, at a shorter 
period than a year after the imposition of the taxes. In the 
mean time interest upon the loans first obtained, would fall 
due, and further loans would be called for. On these con- 
siderations, it was expected that the present Congress would 



1 56 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 7. 

at an early period, arrange the system, and impose the taxes. 
But notwithstanding they had been in session thirteen months 
out of the twenty-four, for which they were elected, they did 
not find time to arrange this important business, and be- 
queathed the unpleasant task to their successors. 

Law of Retaliation. The shocking barbarities practised 
by the Indians, under the command of the British, and by 
their permission, at the river Raisin, excited universal indig- 
nation, and induced the passing of a law authorizing the Pre- 
sident, whenever there had been any violations of the laws and 
usages of war, or any outrage or acts of cruelty and barba- 
rity, perpetrated on any citizens of the United States, or any 
persons in their land or naval service, by those acting under 
authority of the British government, or by the Indians in 
alliance or connexion with, or acting under their authority, to 
cause full and ample retaliation to be executed on any British 
subject, soldier, or seaman, prisoners of war in the United 
States. 

The British alleged in excuse for themselves, their inabil- 
ity to control the Indians. This excuse, however, was gene- 
rally not true in point of fact ; and if true, would afford no 
reasonable justification. It only threw the guilt one step 
further back, and placed the criminality of employing sav- 
ages whom they could not control, in a more conspicuous 
point of view. Happily for the honour and magnanimity of 
the American nation, the severe though just law of retaliation 
was never executed. It was too revolting to the humane 
feeliRgs of Americans, to visit the iniquities of the gov- 
ernment, or their guilty agents, on innocent and mifortunale 
prisoners. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

British Plan of the Campaign for 1813. — American Plan. — Division of 
the United States into Military Districts.— Arrival of the British Re- 
inforcements at Bermuda. — Proclamations of Blockade. — Arrival and 
Proceedings of the Squadron in the Delaware. — Arrival of the Bri- 
tish Squadron at Lynnhaven Bay. — Plundering on the Shores of the 
Chesapeake. — Burning of Havre de Grace. — Plundering and Burning 
of Fredericktown, and Georgetown. — Arrival of Admiral Warren, 
and Sir Sidney Beckwith, with Reinforcements. — Norfolk threatened* 
— Attack on Craney Island. — Capture of Hampton. — Plunder and Out- 
rages at Hampton. — Correspondence between the American and Bri- 
tish Generals on the subject of the Outrages. — Attempt to destroy 
the Plantagenet with a Torpedo. — An attempt on the Ramilies with 
a Torpedo, and a Fire-Ship. — Squadron proceed up the Potomac and 
threaten Alexandria and Washington. — Proceed up the Bay, and 
threaten Annapolis and Baltimore — ^Admiral Cockburn proceeds to th& 
South. — Blockade of Comodore Decatur's Squadron at New-London.. 
— Naval C'hallenge Decline. 

British Plan of Operation for 1813. The distinguished 
naval success of the Americans in the year 1812 was in a 
high degree mortifying to British pride. To be beaten on 
ground which they claimed exclusively as their own, and by 
a navy which they despised, was not to be endured. To 
apologize for such an event, American frigates were called 
seventy- fours in disguise, and greatly overrated in men and 
guns. British commerce had suffered severely by the public 
and private armed ships of the United States. To guard 
against similar events in the succeeding year, the British de- 
termined on a more vigorous prosecution of naval warfare. 
No actions were to be hazarded with American ships but 
with such superior force as would ensure success, and except 
in one or two instances, no American ship was ever after- 
wards attacked, but Avhere the difference was greatly in fa- 



1 -,8 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. H. 

vour of the British. The coast was to be closely blockadeU- 
so as to prevent the egress of vessels, and the return of them 
with their prizes. Every thing American which floated, was 
to be captured or destroyed, and a large armament was to be 
kept constantly hovering on the coast, which should continu- 
ally threaten and harass the different maritime towns, and in 
this manner, as some of their officers expressed themselves, 
chastise America into submission. With these views, the 
principal disposable force of Great Britain was destined for 
the sea-board. No greater reinforcements were to be sent to 
Canada, than what were deemed sufficient to retain their pos- 
sessions. The success of the allied powers against France 
in the year 1812, greatly relieved England from the pressure 
of the continental war, and enabled her, with more effect, to 
pursue her hostile measures against America. 

American. The American government, on the other hand, 
determined to open the campaign of 1813 with a regular 
army of fifty-five thousand men, to be aided by occasional 
calls of militia and volunteers. The main body of the regu- 
lar forces was destined for the conquest of Canada. For 
the purposes of defence, the United States were divided into 
nine military districts. 
Massa ;husetts and New-Hampshire, to compose . . No. I 

Rhode-Island and Connecticut, 2 

New- York from the sea to the highlands, and the state 

of New-Jersey, .3 

Pennsylvania from its eastern hmit to the Alleghany 

mountains, and Delaware, 4 

Maryland and Virginia, 5 

The two Carolinas and Georgia, 6 

The states of Tennessee, Louisiana, and the Mississippi 

territory, 7 

Kentucky, Ohio, and the territorial governments of 

Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan, 8 

Pennsylvania from the Alleghany mountains westward, 

New- York north of the highlands, and Vermont, . . 9 



IS 13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 159 

To each of the districts was assigned a general officer of 
the United States army, whose duty it was to superintend and 
direct all the means of defence, and military operations with- 
in his district. Small detachments of regular troops were 
stationed at the most exposed points on the sea-board, to 
form a rallying point for the militia in case of invasion. The 
commandant of the district was authorized to call upon the 
executives of the states for such portions of the miUtia most 
convenient to the threatened point, as he should deem neces- 
sary. The operations of the militia to be combined with 
the regular force, and the whole to be under the direction of 
the commandant of the district, and while in service, to be 
paid and supported by the United States. 

With these views of the contending parties, the campaign 
of 1813 commenced. In the course of the winter, a large 
reinforcement arrived at Bermuda, consisting of several ships 
of war and transports, with a considerable land force on 
board, furnished with shells and rockets for the purpose of 
attacking the most exposed cities on the sea-board. A por- 
tion of this land force consisted of French prisoners, who, 
rather than be confined for an indefinite period in the English 
prison of Dartmoor, had been induced to embark in the British 
service. 

British Blockade of the Southern Ports. On the 26th of 
December, 1812, an order in council was issued, declaring 
the ports and harbours in the Chesapeake and Delaware 
bays, to be in a state of strict and rigorous blockade ; on 
the 26th of the May following, the blockade was extended to 
New-York, and all the southern ports.* Early in March, a 
fleet consisting of four seventy-fours, six frigates, and a num- 
ber of smaller vessels of war, arrived in the Chesapeake 
under Admiral Cockburn. About the same time three 



* Orders in council of the 26th of December, 1812, and 26th of May, 
1813. 



>1 



160 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. g. 

seventy-fours and several small vessels, appeared in the Del- 
aware under Commodore Beresford. 

Operations in the Delaware. On the 16th of March, the 
Delaware squadron made a demand of supplies from the in- 
habitants of Lewistown, a considerable village on the Dela- 
ware shore, offering to pay the Philadelphia prices, in case 
they were voluntarily furnished, and threatening to destroy 
the town in case of refusal. Such proposals, addressed to a 
people opposed in principle to the war, was expected to 
bring in an abundant supply ; but the patriotic citizens 
of this village peremptorily refused ; informing the com- 
modore, that they could hold no correspondence with an 
enemy, without subjecting themselves to the penalties of 
treason. They gave immediate information to the governor 
of Delaware, who called out a considerable body of militia 
and placed the town in a respectable state of defence. On 
the 6th of April, the demand was renewed, and on being 
again refused, the Belvidera with two smaller vessels, anchor- 
ed close under the town, and commenced a bombardment ; 
this was spiritedly returned by the militia under Colonel Da- 
vis, from a battery erected in a commanding position. On 
the afternoon of the 7th, the British attempted to land, but 
were met at the water's edge and driven back to their ships. 
The blockading squadron then left their moorings above 
Lewis, and dropped down to Newbold's ponds, a watering 
place seven miles below. Here they again attempted to land 
and obtain water from the ponds, and were again met by a 
detachment of the militia from Lewis under Colonel Hun- 
ter, and compelled to retire and abandon their object. The 
squadron failing to obtain the necessary supplies in the Dela- 
ware, soon afterwards returned to Bermuda. 

In the Chesapeake, In the Chesapeake, the blockading 
squadron took their station in Lynnhaven bay, near the en- 
trance of the Chesapeake, and commenced a disgraceful 
scene of plunder and devastation. Light vessels traversed 
the bay in every direction, capturing and destroying all the 



IS 13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. igl 

fishing-boats and bay craft within their reach ; frequently 
landing, and plundering and burning defenceless farm- 
houses, seducing, and taking away negroes, and driving oft' 
the stock ; on the appearance of any considerable opposition, 
these marauders immediately took to their ships. On the 
3d of April, three frigates, two brigs, and a schooner, entered 
the Rappahannock, and attacked the Dolphin privateer, and 
three letters of marque, which were there preparing for sea. 
The letters of marque were immediately taken. The priva- 
teer sustained an action of two hours, when the British suc- 
ceeded in boarding her with the loss of fifty men killed and 
wounded. 

The cities of Baltimore, Norfolk, and Annapolis, and all the 
smaller towns and villages on the waters of the Chesapeake, 
were kept in a constant state of alarm. Many of the inhabit- 
ants of the most exposed towns removed, with their valuable 
effects, into the interior. Great exertions were made to place 
the most considerable towns in a respectable state of defence. 
On the 16th of April, a large force appeared at the mouth of 
the Patapsco, twelve miles below the city of Baltimore; took 
the Baltimore packets and a number of small craft, and threat- 
ened an attack on the city. Finding it well defended, they 
proceeded up to Havre de Grace, near the head of the bay, 
at the mouth of the Susquehannah. On their way, they 
plundered and burnt Frenchtown, a village consisting of five 
or six dwelling-houses, and several stores and stables, being 
the place of deposite on the line of packets and stages between 
the cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia. 

Destruction of Havre de Grace. The attack on Havre de 
Grace commenced by bombardment from the shipping, at day- 
light, on the 3d of May. The frightened inhabitants, 
awakened by the thunder of the cannon, fled in every direc- 
tion ; a few repaired to the beach, where a battery with 
several pieces of artillery had been planted as a kind of 
defence against small watering parties; after discharging a 
few shots, they fled on the approach of the barges, with the 

21 



1^2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8. 

exception of a citizen by the name of O'Neale, originally 
from iFeland, stationed at one of the guns, he continued load- 
ing and firing it alone, to the imminent hazard of his life, after 
his fellow-citizens had fled, until by the recoihng of the 
piece, he was severely wounded in the thigh : he then with 
difficulty retreated into the town, and fought them with his 
musket, until a British officer rode up with several marines 
and made him prisoner. On board the Maidstone frigate he 
was threatened with execution for being of Irish extract, but 
was afterwards released upon the application of the magis- 
trates of the town. The British landed with Admiral Cock- 
burn at their head, and proceeded without further resistance 
to the work of destruction. The town was given up to the 
plunder of the soldiery, and burnt. Mrs. Rodgers, wife of 
the commodore, Mrs. Pinckney, and Mrs. Goldsborough, 
with several other ladies of distinction, sought shelter at an 
elegant country-seat of Mr. Pringle's, a short distance from 
the village. When the British came to burn the house, Mrs. 
Goldsborough met the officer, and entreated that the house 
might be spared on account of her aged mother, who could 
not be removed. The officer replied, that he acted under 
the admiral's orders, and she must obtain his consent. She 
immediately sought the admiral, and obtained his permission 
that the house might be spared, but when she returned, found 
it on fire, and two men coming out loaded with plunder. Mr. 
Pinckney and Mrs. Goldsborough, with the assistance of two 
marines, succeeded in extinguishing the flames. Having 
destroyed the village, one party proceeded several miles on 
the Baltimore road, plundering and burning the farm-houses, 
and every thing within their reach; another proceeded up 
the Susquehannah, committing similar ravages. 

Of Fredericktown and Georgetown. On the 6th, they re- 
embarked and proceeded down the bay, to Sassafras creek. 
A few miles up this creek were the villages of Fredericktown 
and Georgetown, of about forty or fifty houses each, situated 
on opposite sides of the river. At Fredericktown a number 



1813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 1 63 

of small vessels had taken shelter as a place of safety. These 
villages, with the shipping, underwent the same scene of 
plunder and conflagration as had been practised at Havre de 
Grace. The private property plundered and destroyed at 
Havre was estimated at sixty thousand, and at the two other 
villages at seventy thousand dollars. 

On the 1st of June, Admiral Warren entered the Chesa- 
peake with a considerable naval reinforcement, and a num- 
ber of land troops and marines, under the command of Sir 
Sidney Beckwith. The British force now in the Chesapeake 
consisted of eight ships of the line, twelve frigates, and a con- 
siderable number of small vessels. Such a force evidently 
indicated an attack upon some more important point. From 
the movement of the squadron to Hampton roads, it appeared 
that Norfolk was the object. The defence of this city de- 
pended on a squadron of about twenty gunboats, the frigate 
Constellation, and the fortifications on Craney Island. The 
frigate was anchored between two forts, situate on each side 
Elizabeth river, which command the approach to Norfolk. 
On the 21st, 15 gun-boats, under the command of Captain 
Tarbel, attacked the Junon, the foremost British frigate, at 
the distance of three quarters of a mile; the action continued 
upwards of an hour with considerable damage to the frigate, 
when, on the nearer approach of a razee, the gun-boats 
hauled off. 

Attack on Craney Island. Before the British could enter 
the harbour of Norfolk and approach the town, it w?is neces- 
sary to take possession of Craney Island. On the morning 
of the 22d, they were discovered passing round the point of 
Nansemond river, and landing on the main land in a position 
where the passage was fordable, with a view to pass over 
and attack the works on the west side of the Island, while 
at the same time a number of barges from the fleet attempted 
to land in front. These were attacked before they reached 
the shore from a battery on the beach, manned by the sailors 
and marines from the Constellation and the gun-boats. 



Ifi4 JHSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CaAP. S. 

Three of the barges were sunk, most of the men drowned, 
and the rest compelled to retreat to their shipping. The 
party which landed at Nansemond, were met and repulsed by 
the Virginia mihtia, and driven back to their ships, with the 
loss, including those in the barges, of upwards of two hun- 
dred in killed and wounded. The city of Norfolk and the 
neighbouring villages of Gosport and Portsmouth, owed their 
safety to this gallant defence of Craney Island. 

Ravages at Hampton. Defeated in their attempt on Nor- 
folk, the armament proceeded to Hampton, a village at the 
head of the bay which runs up north from James river, 
eighteen miles above Norfolk. This village was defended 
by a garrison of four hundred aud fifty militia, protected by 
some slight fortifications. Admiral Cockburn, on the 25th of 
June, with his forces, advanced towards the town in barges 
and small vessels, throwing shells and rockets, while Sir Sidney 
Beckwith effected a landing below with two thousand men. 
Cockburn's party were repulsed by the garrison, and driven 
back behind a point, until General Beckwith's troops advanc- 
ed and compelled the garrison to retire. The town being 
now completely in the possession of the British, was given 
up to pillage. Many of the inhabitants had fled with their 
valuable effects ; those who remained suffered the most 
shameful barbarities. That renegado corps, composed of 
French prisoners accustomed to plunder and murder in Spain, 
and who had been induced to enter the British service by 
promises of similar indulgence in America, were now to be 
gratified, and were let loose upon the wretched inhabitants of 
Hampton without restraint. For two days the town was given 
up to unrestrained pillage; private property was plundered 
and wantonly destroyed ; unarmed and unoffending individu- 
als grossly abused; females violated ; and in one instance, an 
aged sick man murdered in the arms of his wife, who, at the 
same time, was dangerously wounded. A collection of well- 
•attestcd facts, made by a committee of Congress respecting 



1«1^. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 165 

the outrages at Hampton, stand on their journals as lasting 
monuments of disgrace to the British nation. 

Correspondence between General Taylor and Sir Sidney 
Beckviiih. General Taylor, the commanding officer at Nor- 
folk, addressed a note to Admiral Warren on this subject, in 
which he remarks, " that it was with grief and astonishment 
he had heard of these excesses. The world will suppose 
these acts to have been approved if not excited by the com- 
manders, if suffered to pass by with impunity. I am prepar- 
ed for any species of warfare which you are disposed to 
prosecute. It is for the sake of humanity that I enter this 
protest. It will hereafter depend on you, whether the evils 
inseparable from a state of war, shall in our operations be 
tempered by the mildness of civilized life, or under your 
authority be aggravated by all the fiend-like passions which 
can be enlisted into them." General Beckwith, as command- 
er of the land forces, by whom these outrages were princi- 
pally committed, replied, " that these excesses were occasion- 
ed by a proceeding of so extraordinary a nature, that had he 
not been an eye-witness to it, he would not have credited it. 
At the recent attempt on Craney Island, the troops, he stated, 
in one of the barges sunk by the fire of the American 
guns, clung to the wreck ; several Americans waded off from 
the island, and in the presence of all engaged, fired upon 
and shot them. With a feeling natural to such an occasion, 
the troops of that corps landed at Hampton." 

General Taylor, rephed that " he was satisfied such a 
scene did not take place, and if it had, satisfaction ought to 
have been demanded, before retaliation so extravagant in 
measure, and applying not to the perpetrators of the offence, 
but to the innocent and helpless, was resorted to. That he 
had ordered an inquiry to be made into the facts, and effec- 
tual measures should be taken to punish any misconduct. A 
board of field officers to whom the subject was referred, re- 
ported, that it appeared from the testimony, that in the action 
at Craney Island, two of the enemy's boats in front of their line 



166 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8, 

were sunk by the batteries ; the troops in the boats were afloat 
and in danger of drowning, and being in front of the boats 
which were still engaged, the firing necessarily continued, and 
was in the direction of the men in the water, but with no inten- 
tion of doing them any further harm ; on the contrary, orders 
were given to prevent this by ceasing to fire grape, and to fire 
round shot. One of the British who had apparently sur- 
rendered, advanced towards the shore about one hundred 
yards, then suddenly turned to the right and endeavoured to 
escape, he was fired upon to bring him back, which had the 
desired effect. The troops on the island exerted themselves 
ia acts of kindness to the unresisting foe."* The transmis- 
sion of this report to Sir Sidney Beckwith, ended the corres- 
pondence on the subject of the outrages, and the troops 
re-embarked from Hampton on the 27th of June. 

Effects of British Outrages, The British appeared to have 
had two objects in view in their system of plunder and devas- 
tation in the Chesapeake ; one, to gratify their troops with 
pillage ; the other to render the calamities of war so distress- 
ing to the inhabitants as that the sufferers and those exposed 
to similar sufferings, should compel the government to make 
peace upon their own terms. As to the latter object, the 
effects of this system were the reverse of their expectations. 
The war, unpopular among a great portion of the American 
people at its commencement, lost that character and acquired 
new popularity by every act of barbarity in the enemy. 
The peaceful citizen who could only with the utmost reluc- 
tance be compelled to contribute his service or property 
to the conquest of Canada, was ready to devote his all to 
the protection of his altars, fireside, and family, and those of 
his neighbours, from the wanton violations of a barbarous 
foe. Either from the orders of their government, with a view 
to detach the northern section of the union from the war, or 
the accidental difference in the character of the commanders, 

* Correspondence beeween General Taylor and Sir Sidney Beckwith. 



1813. *HIST0RY OF THE LATE WAR. 167 

the blockading squadrons north of the Chesapeake conducted 
their operations upon the liberal principles of civilized war- 
fare. Commodore Hardy, to whom the blockade of New- 
London and Long Island Sound was intrusted, was distin- 
guished for the humane and liberal manner in which it was 
conducted. 

Torpedoes. The act of the last session of Congress 
encouraging and rewarding the destruction of British vessels 
by submarine instruments or other destructive machinery, 
induced a variety of essays to accomplish such an object. 
The attempt which approached nearest to success, was made 
by Mr. Mix, a gentleman of ingenuity and enterprize belong- 
ing to the navy. Having spent several weeks in preparing a 
torpedo, he made an essay upon the Plantagenet, a British 
seventy-four at anchor in Lynnhaven bay. On the evening 
of the 18th of July, he put off from his rendezvous, in a 
large open boat which he called the "Chesapeake's Revenge," 
assisted by Captain Bowman of Salem, and Midshipman 
M'Gowan of the United States navy, and having ascertained 
the position of the ship, he approached within fifty fathoms 
and dropped his torpedo ; at the same instant he was hailed 
by the British guard-boats, which induced him immediately to 
take up his machine, and retreat. On the 19th, he made 
another unsuccessful attempt. On the 20th, he succeeded in 
getting under the ship's jib-boom, within fifteen yards of her 
bow ; here he continued fifteen minutes undiscovered, mak- 
ing preparations, when at the moment he was ready to launch 
his instrument of destruction, he was hailed by the centinel 
in the forecastle, and compelled to decamp. The centinel, not 
being answered, fired his musket, which was followed by a 
rapid discharge of small arms. Blue lights were then made 
to find the boat, but failed ; rockets were thrown in every 
direction, which illuminated the water for a considerable dis- 
tance, and discovered their nocturnal visiter making a rapid 
retreat ; the ship then commenced a sharp fire of heavy 
guns, slipped her cables, and made sail, while her boats were 



168 HiSTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap, s; 

despatched in pursuit. The daring intruders directly getting 
out of the lights of the rockets, escaped unhurt. The un- 
welcome visits were repeated on the nights of the 21st, 22d, 
and 23d, without success, as the ship having taken the alarm 
changed her position every night. On the 24th, Mr. Mix, 
having succeeded in discovering the position of the ship, 
approached within a hundred yards, and dropped the fatal 
machine into the water, just as the centinel on deck cried out 
"all's well." It sunk ahout ten feet, the tide floated it down 
unperceived to within a few yards of the bottom of the ship, 
when it exploded with a most terrific sound. A pyramid of 
water nearly fifty feet in circumference, was thrown up forty 
or fifty feet into the air with the appearance of vivid red, 
tinged with a beautiful purple, when it burst at the top with a 
terrible explosion, and fell in torrents on the deck of the 
ship, which rolled into the chasm below and nearly upset. 
The forechannel of the ship was blown off', and a boat which 
lay along side with several men in her, was thrown into the 
air in the convulsion of the waters. The ship's crew were 
panic-struck, and most of them betook themselves to the 
boats. Had the explosion been delayed a few moments until 
the machine had struck the bottom of the ship, it must have 
been fatal. A line of torpedoes was prepared to be set at 
short notice, in the ship channel at the narrows, between 
Long and Staten Islands, in such manner that seventy-fours 
passing up to New- York, must necessarily disturb and cause 
them to explode, and expose the ships to destruction.* One 
torpedo was prepared at New-London designed for the de- 
struction of the Ramifies, and proceeded in the darkness of a 
still and cloudy night, to the object of its destination ; but 
neither the machine, boat, nor managers, were ever after- 
wards heard of. 

Explosion of the Eagle. On the 25th of June, the schooner 
Eagle was fitted out from New- York, having on board a large 

* Niles's Register, vol. 4, page 366. 



1813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 169 

magazine of powder, and a considerable quantity of flour and 
other articles adapted to the wants of the British squadron. A 
spring-lock was fixed to a cask of the powder, which was 
connected by a string to a flour-barrel, so that when it was 
attempted to be removed, the lock must spring, and the mag- 
azine explode. The authors of this stratagem calculated 
that the British, in their usual manner, would take possession 
of the schooner, and bring her alongside of the Ramilies to 
unlade, when the explosion would take place, and destroy the 
ship. The Eagle, thus freighted, proceeded to the harbour 
of New-London ; and as she neared the Ramilies, three barges 
approached, and her crew left her. The barges took posses- 
sion ; but as the wind was contrary, they were unable to con- 
duct her to the ship, and began to remove her lading into the 
boats, when they sprang the lock, and the schooner, barges, 
and men, instantly disappeared. The British affected to 
consider this as a barbarous and unjustifiable mode of attack, 
unwarranted by the usages of civilized nations. Two 
answers were given to their remonstrances on this subject: 
one, that their cruel and wanton outrages on the peaceable 
inhabitants of the coast warranted any mode of defence cal- 
culated to afford protection: the other, that stratagems in war 
are always justifiable ; and the modes of attack of which they 
complained stood on the same ground as sapping, mining, 
and ambuscades on land. These experiments, though un- 
successful as to the main object, had the effect of rendering 
the enemy more cautious in approaching, and taking stations 
in the American waters. 

Potomac. On the 1st of July, the Chesapeake squadron, 
consisting of seven shijis of the I'ne, seven frigates, and eleven 
small vessels, with the troops on board, left Hampton roads, 
proceeded to the mouth of the Potomac, and entered that river, 
taking soundings, and marking out the channel with buoys. 
Their advance proceeded up the river within seventy miles 
of the city of Washington, and excited great alarm in that 
city, and at Alexandria- and Georgetown. The defence of 

22 



170 mSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 8. 

these places from a naval attack, depended on fort Washing- 
ton, formerly called fort Warburton, erected on Mason's 
Island in the Potomac, six miles below Alexandria. The 
works here were repaired, the garrison increased, the militia 
from the neighbouring country called in, and such an aspect 
of defence presented, as induced the British to withdraw from 
the river. They next proceeded up the bay and threatened 
Annapolis and Baltimore ; but finding them in a formidable 
attitude of defence, made no attempt. The principal part of 
the squadron under Admiral Cockburn, soon afterwards left 
the bay, and proceeded to the south, alarming, and plundering 
the coast of the Carolinas ; on that of North-Carolina, Cock- 
burn entered the Ocracoke inlet, captured two privateers, and 
proceeded to the entrance of the Nease, with a view of attack- 
ing Newbern; but finding that place well guai'ded by the 
militia, he attacked the neighbouring town of Portsmouth, 
plundered it, and returned to the ships with a valuable booty, 
and a number of slaves, whom he induced to leave their mas- 
ters under a promise of freedom, and afterwards sold in the 
West-Indies. He next proceeded to the coast of Georgia, 
took possession of Cumberland Island, and established his 
head-quarters during the winter, at the elegant mansion-house 
of the late General Greene, which he found in the possession 
of his daughter. The British admiral and officers paid a 
scrupulous regard to the rights of the occupant of this seat,, 
while they committed their wonted depredations on the neigh- 
bouring coast. 

Blockade of Neio-London. The principal harbours north 
of the Chesapeake were strictly blockaded. The frigates 
United States and Macedonian, and sloop of war Hornet, 
having been repaired in the port of New-York, and fitted for 
sea, attempted to go out on the 24th of May. A squadron of 
superior force lying oft' the narrows, made it necessary for 
them to take the passage through Hell-Gate, and Long-Island 
sound. To oppose their passage in this direction, there 
appeared off New-London harbour, two seventy-fours, a 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Hi 

razee, and a frigate, and chased the American squadron into 
that port. The British, under Commodore Hardy, anchored at 
the mouth of the harbour, just out of the reach of the guns 
of the forts; the Americans hghtened out a part of their 
armament, and retired five miles up the Thames : for their 
protection, forts Trumbull and Griswold were strongly garri- 
soned, and corps of militia ordered in from the neighbouring 
country to prevent a landing. The vigilance of the block- 
ading squadron prevented any opportunity for escape ; and 
confined the frigates to the river until the close of the war. 
The Endymion, and Statira, composed a part of the block- 
ading squadron, and were of equal force with the United 
States and Macedonian. Commodore Hardy remarked to 
Captain Moran, who had been captured, and carried on board 
the Ramilies, " that he should have no objections to a meet- 
ing's taking place between the frigates, but could not allow 
ihe challenge to proceed from the English commanders." 
Challenge given by Commodore Decatur. — Declined. 
Captain Moran, being afterwards paroled, mentioned this con- 
versation in the hearing of Commodore Decatur, who imme- 
diately despatched Captain Biddle with a proposition for a 
meeting. Having delivered his message. Captain Biddle was 
informed, that an answer would be returned by a flag the next 
day. The crews of the American frigates were assembled 
and received the proposition with hearty cheers; the officers 
and men were now in anxious expectation of being immedi- 
ately led to batde and victory; when the British flag arrived 
with the unwelcome intelligence, that the challenge was de- 
clined. 



^ 



CHAPTER IX. 

Naval Affairs. — Cruise of the President — Of the Congress — Of the 
Hornet. — Capture of the Peacock. — Captain Lawrence appointed to 
the command of the Chesapeake. — Challenge of the Shannon ; 
accepted. — Capture of the Chesapeake. — Funeral of Lawrence and 
Lud low, at Halifax — Their Bodies removed to New- York. — Funeral 
Honours at Salem and New- York.— Cruise and Capture of the Argus. 
Death of Captsiin Allen. — Battle between the Enterprise and Boxer, 
and Capture of the latter. — Death and Funeral Honours of both Com- 
manders. — Cruise of the Essex in the Atlantic — Her Arrival in the 
Pacific. — Capture of a Peruvian Corsair. — Capture of Whale Ships. — 
Establishment at Madison Island. — Essex Junior. — Arrival of British 
Squadron. — Blockade of the Essex. — Battle between her and the 
British Squadron. — Capture of the Essex. — Return of Captain Porter 
and Crew to the United States. — Number and Value of British Prizes 
in 1813. 

The American frigates which were so fortunate as to elude 
the blockading squadrons, and get to sea in the year 1813, 
pursued the enemy with their wonted bravery and enter- 
prise. 

Cruise of the President, On the 23d of April, Commodore 
Rodgers, with the President, and Congress frigates, sailed 
from Boston on a cruise. They continued in company along 
the banks of Newfoundland until the eighth of May, when the 
President, having parted from the Congress, pursued her route 
to the northward, with a view to cross the tracks of the West- 
India, Halifax, and Quebec trade. From the 9th to the 13lh 
of June, they made four prizes. They then shaped their 
course for the North Seas, to intercept vessels bound from 
the Irish Channel to Newfoundland, by the way of the north 
of Ireland. After remaining on this station several days with- 
out success, they proceeded to the North Cape for the pur- 
pose of intercepting a convoy of thirty sail, expected to leave 



1 74 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. 

Archangel^ for England about the middle of July. On the 
19th, the President, near the North Cape was chased by a 
line of battle ship and frigate. In this high latitude, the sun 
was several degrees above the horizon, during the whole 
twenty-four hours, which enabled the British to continue the 
chase by day-light uninterruptedly for eighty hours. Commo- 
dore Rodgers, by skilful mancevering, and extraordinary 
exertions, finally escaped, and made his way by the north- 
west coast of Ireland to the United States. On the 23d of 
September, on the American coast, he was discovered by the 
High-FIier, one of Admiral Warren's look-out ships. The 
British made a private signal, which by accident was an- 
swered by the Commodore, with the English corresponding 
one. The High-Flier immediatety made up to the President, 
and was captured. From her such information respecting 
the number and stations of the British force on the coast was 
obtained, as enabled the President to reach the harbour of 
Newport on the 27th of September, in safety. During the 
cruise, she made twelve prizes, three of which were destroyed, 
and the others sent into port.* The Congress, after parting 
with the President, cruised in the latitude of the West-Indies, 
with a view of falling in with the British trade, but with little 
success: she made Portsmouth harbour on the 14th of De- 
cember, having made only three prizes during her cruise. 

Hornet. Captain Lawrence, of the Hornet sloop of war, con- 
tinued on the coast of South America, blockading the Bonne 
Citoyen in the port of St. Salvador until the 24th of January, 
1813, when he was compelled to retire on the appearance of 
the Montague, a seventy-four which had been sent for from 
Rio Janeiro to raise the blockade. On the 28th of December, 
Captain Lawrence, with the consent of Commodore Bain- 
bridge, the commanding officer on that station, challenged the 
Bonne Citoyen to single combat ; the commodore pledging 
himself to retire, so as that it should not be in his power to 



* Commodore Rbdgers's letter to the secretary of the navy. 



1S13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 1 75 

give assistance. The challenge was declined. The pro- 
priety of giving or receiving naval challenges, was very 
much questioned, and hxid never been expressly approbated 
by the government. The disadvantage was altogether 
against America. If successful, the loss of a single ship of 
war was of very little consequence to Great Britain, and 
made no difference in her naval operations; if unsuccessful, 
the loss of a frigate was a seriousjnjury to the American 
navy, and very much crippled its operations. After the 
events of 1812, such challenges were not nesessary to estab- 
lish the American naval character : it was known and feared 
abroad, and cherished and respected at home. 

Destruction of the Peacock, On the 24th of February, ofi' 
Demarara, Captain Lawrence fell in with the brig of war 
Peacock, and sunk her, after a close action of fifteen minutes : 
a few minutes befoi-e she went down, she struck her colours, 
and hoisted a signal of distress. The firing instantly ceased, 
and the boats of the Hornet immediately went to the relief of 
the crew; but were not able to save all. Thirteen of them, 
together with four of Captain Lawrence's men, who were on 
board endeavouring to get off the prisoners, went down with 
her. Three impressed American seaiiien, on board the Pea- 
cock, at the commencement of the action requested that they 
might go below, as they could not fight against their country; 
they were refused in the most insolent manner, and ordered to 
their quarters; one of them was killed in the action, the others 
taken on board the Hornet with the prisoners. The Peacock 
mounted twenty guns, and had a crew of one hundred and 
twenty-four men.* On this event, the Halifax papers remark. 
" If a vessel had been moored for the sole purpose of experi- 
ment, it is not probable she could have been sunk in so short 
a time. It will not do for our vessels to fight theirs single- 
handed. The Americans are a dead nip." The number 
of prisoners now on board the Hornet, and the want of pro- 

'^^ Lawrence's letter to the secretary of the narr. 



176 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. €hap 9. 

visions rendered it necessary for Captain Lawrence to return 
to the United States. The sailors of the Hornet, with the 
characteristic generosity of American tars, shared with the 
surviving crew of the Peacock their scanty provisions, and 
made each of them a present of two shirts, a jacket, and a 
pair of trowsers, to supply their wants occasioned by the 
sinking of their ship. 

Shatinon and Chesapeake. On his return to the United 
States, Captain Lawrence was promoted to the coniinand of 
the Chesapeake, then ready for sea in Boston harbour. That 
port was then strictly blockaded by the Shannon and Tenedos 
frigates. Scarcely had Lawrence taken the command of his 
ship, when he received a challenge from Captain Brooke to 
meet the Shannon in single combat, giving a particular de* 
scription of her armament, and engaging that the Tenedos 
should be out of the reach of assistance. There were pow- 
erful reasons which would have induced a more cautious com- 
mander than Captain Lawrence to have declined the chal- 
lenge. The Shannon had the advantage in men and guns ; 
she rated as a thirty-eight, but mounted fifty-two ; the Ches- 
apeake rated thirty-six, and mounted forty-eight; Captain 
Brooke could select his men from both ships; Captain Law- 
rence's first lieutenant was sick on shore, three others had 
recently left tlie ship ; of the four which remained, two were 
only midshipmen, acting as lieutenants ; part of his crew 
were new hands, and the others were complaining on account 
of arrearages of pay and prize-money, and from a long slay 
in port had lost much of their ardour; the ship and crew 
were strangers to him ; and the Chesapeake, from her encouii 
ter with the Leopard, had the character of an unlucky ship. 
Under these embarrassments. Captain Lawrence accepted 
the challenge, and on the morning of the 1st of June, sailed 
out of the harbour to meet the Shannon : the latter observing 
her coming out, bore away. The Chesapeake followed her 
until four o'clock in the afternoon, when she hauled up and 
fired a gun, on which the Shannon hove too ; both ships ma- 



4813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. I77 

noeuvred for some time, until a quarter before six, when they 
approached within pistol-shot, and exchanged broadsides. 
These were both destructive, but the fire of the Shannon 
was most fatal in the destruction of officers ; the fourth lieu- 
tenant Mr. Ballard, was mortally wounded, the sailing master 
was killed, and Captain Lawrence received a musket ball in 
his leg, which caused great pain and profuse bleeding, but he 
leaned on the companion way, and continued to give orders 
and animate his men. A second and third broadsides were 
exchanged with evident advantage to the Chesapeake, but 
unfortunately among the now wounded was the first lieute- 
nant Mr. Ludlow who was carried below ; three men were 
successively shot from the helm, in about twelve minutes from 
the commencement of the action, and as the hands were 
shifting, a shot disabled her foresail, so that she could no 
longer answer her helm, and her anchor caught in one of 
the after ports of the Shannon, which enabled the latter to 
rake her upper deck. As soon as Captain Lawrence per- 
ceived that she was falling to leeward, and that by the Shan- 
non's fining she would fall on board, he called the boarders, 
and was giving orders about the foresail, when he received a 
musket-ball in his body. The bugle-man who should hAve 
called the boarders did not do his duty; and at this moment 
Commodore Brooke, whose ship had suffered so much that 
he was preparing to repel boarding, perceiving from this 
accident how the deck of the Chesapeake was swept, jump- 
ed on board with about twenty men; they would have been 
instantly repelled, but the captain, the first lieutenant, the 
sailing master, the boatswain, the lieutenant of marines, the 
only acting lieutenant on the spar deck, were all killed or 
disabled. At this moment Lieutenant Cox ran on deck, just 
in time to receive his falling commander and bear him bclow. 
Lieutenant Budd led up the boarders, but only fifteen or 
twenty would follow him, and with these he defended the ship 
until he was disabled. Lieutenant Ludlow, wounded as he 
was, having laid his commander in the ward-room, hurried 

23 



178 HISTORY OF THE iiATE WAR. Chap. », 

upon deck and soon received a mortal wound from a sabre. 
The marines who were engaged fought with desperate cour- 
age, but they were few in number, many of them having fol- 
lowed the boatsw^ain's mate, a Portuguese, who exclaimed as 
he skulked below, " so much for not paying men their prize- 
money." Meanwhile the Shannon threw on board sixty addi 
tional men, who soon succeeded in overpowering the few re- 
maining seamen of the Chesapeake, and taking possession 
of the ship, which was not surrendered by any signal of sub- 
mission, but became the enemy's only because they were 
able to overwhelm all who were in a condition to resist. As 
Captain Lawrence was carried below, he perceived the me- 
lancholy condition of the Chesapeake, and exclaimed, " Don't 
give up the ship, let her flag wave while I live ;" but it was 
too late to resist, the enemy had complete command of the 
ship. As Captain Lawrence's wounds would not admit of 
his removal, he lay in the ward-room surrounded by his 
wounded and dying officers, and after lingering in great pain 
four days, expired on the 5th of June. His body was wrap- 
ped in the colours of the Chesapeake and laid on the quarter- 
deck until their arrival in Halifax, where he and Lieutenant 
Ludlow were buried with the highest military and naval 
honours ; their palls were supported by the oldest captains 
in the navy then in port, and no demonstrations of respect 
were omitted to honour the remains of the brave but unfor- 
tunate strangers. In this sanguinary conflict the Chesapeake 
lost her commander and forty-seven men killed, and ninety- 
seven wounded, of whom fourteen afterwards died. On the 
part of the Shannon, the first leiuienant, the purser, captain's 
elerk, and twenty-three seamen were killed, and Captain 
Brooke and fifty-seven seamen wounded. 

The key of Captain Lawrence's store-room was demand- 
ed of the purser, who was compelled to give it up, observing 
at the same time, that in the capture of the Guerriere, Mace- 
donian, and Java, the most scrupulous regard was paid to the 
private property of the British othcers ; that Captain Law- 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 179 

rence had laid in stores for a long cruise, the value of which 
would be a great object to his widow and family, for whose 
use he was desirous of preserving them j his request was 
haughtily refused. 

Captain Crowninshield, of Salem, having obtained permis- 
sion from the President, prepared a ship at his own expense, 
and proceeded to Halifax with twelve masters of vessels as 
his crew; obtained the bodies of Captain Lawrence, and 
Lieutenant Ludlow, and returned to Salem with the remains 
of these gallant officers, on the 19lh of August, where funeral 
honours were performed, and a eulogy pronounced by Judge 
Story. The friends of Captain Lawrence and Lieutenant Lud- 
low were desirous that their remains should be interred at New- 
York, where the lady of Cajjtain Lawrence and the families 
of both the heroes resided; the corpses were conveyed from 
Salem to New-York by land, and there interred with all the 
respect due to deceased merit. Captain Lawrence had been 
bred to the sea from the age of twelve, and distinguished him- 
self before Tripoli, with Decatur. He was slain at the age 
of thirty-two, at the post of honour. In the year 1808 he 

married the daughter of , a respectable mefchant of 

the city of New- York ; he left her with two children, and in 
a situation in which the news of his death must have been 
peculiarly distressing. The catastrophe of the Chesapeake 
was kept from her knowledge until the birth of twin children, 
rendered the communication proper. The sympathies of the 
nation in some measure assuaged the widow's grief.* 

Cruise of the Argus. In May 1813, the brig Argus, Cajj- 
tain Allen, sailed from the United States for France, with 
Mr. Crawford, appointed ambassador to the French court, 
in the place of Mr. Barlow, deceased ; he was so fortunate as 
to elude the British cruisers, and arrive at L'Orient in twenty- 
three days. From L'Orient Captain Allen sailed to the 
Irish Channel, for the purpose of annoying the British coast- 

* Life of Captain Lawrence. 



180 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 9. 

ing trade, and interrupting the communication between Eng- 
land and Ireland. It being entirely unexpected by the 
British, that an American ship should venture into this chan- 
nel in search of prizes; they had deemed it unnecessary to 
station any force there for the protection of their trade; and 
Captain Allen, in the course of six weeks, took and destroyed 
British property to an amount, according to their own estima- 
tion, of two millions of dollars. His distance from any 
friendly port to which he might conduct his prizes, rendered 
it necessary to destroy them; non-combatant passengers 
were discharged with all their private property ; prisoners of 
war paroled, and sent on shore, and the vessels sunk. So 
unexpected and unwelcome a visiter on their coast did not 
long escape the attention of the British admiralty. 

Capture. The Sea-Horse, a thirty-eight gun frigate, and 
the Pelican ship of war of twenty guns, were ordered to the 
Irish Channel in quest of the Argus; and on the 14th of 
August, the Pelican foil in with her, and commenced the 
action : after a close contest of forty-three minutes, the Sea- 
Horse heaving in sight, the Argus surrendered. Early in the 
action Captain Allen had his left leg shot away by a cannon- 
ball, but refused to be carried below until he fainted from loss 
of blood. His leg was amputated above the knee, and every 
surgical aid afforded, but he survived only four days, and died 
on the 18th in Plymouth hospital. 

Enterprise and Boxer. On the 5th of September, the 
United States brig Enterprise sailed from Portsmouth, and 
on the next day fell in with the British brig Boxer; the latter 
immediately fired a shot as a challenge, hoisted English 
colours, and bore down on the Enterprise. The American 
vessel employed herself in tacking, and making preparations 
for action ; having obtained the weathergage, she manceu- 
vered some time to try her sailing, and ascertain the force of 
her antagonist ; at length she shortened sail, hoisted her 
ensigns, and fired three shot in answer to the challenge. The 
Boxer now bore up within half pistol-shot, gave three cheers, 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, IgJ 

and fired her starboard broadside ; this was answered by like 
cheers, and a larboard broadside from the Enterprise, who 
now having the advantage of the wind, ranged ahead of her 
enemy, rounded to on the larboard tack, and commenced a 
raking broadside. The Boxer's main-top-sail, and top-sail- 
yards came down, and the Enterprise taking a raking position 
on the starboard-bow of her antagonist, and opening a raking 
fire, compelled her to cry out for quarter. The colours being 
nailed to the mast, could not be taken down, but the firing 
ceased, and the ship surrendered. The action lasted three 
quarters of an hour; in the early part of it, Captain Blythe, 
commander of the Boxer, and Lieutenant Burrows of the 
Enterprise, were both mortally wounded. The latter refused 
to be carried below until the sword of his enemy was pre- 
sented to him; when grasping it with both hands, he ex- 
claimed, " I am now satisfied, I die contented." The Enter- 
prise was rated as a 12 gun brig of 165 tons, with a crew of 
102 men ; the Boxer, as a fourteen gun brig of 200 tons, with 
a crew of 104 men. In the action she had twenty-five killed 
and fourteen wounded; the Enterprise four killed and eleven 
wounded. 

The American ship, with her prize, made the harbour of 
Portland. The bodies of the two commanders were brought 
on shore in ten oared barges, rowed at minute strokes by 
shipmasters, accompanied by all the barges and boats in the 
harbour, the two vessels firing minute-guns. At the wharf a 
procession was formed, consisting of the civil and military 
authorities, and the citizens of the town, the corpse of Lieu- 
tenant Burrows j)receding, and after the performance of 
appropriate funeral service, the remains of the two young 
naval heroes were deposited by the side of each other in 
peace. 

Cruise of the Essex in the Pacific. The Essex, under the 
command of Captain Porter, sailed from the Delaware on the 
27th of October, 1812, with orders to join the squadron under 
Commodore Bainbridge, destined for the Pacific ocean ; he 



182 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. 

proceeded to ports Praya, Fernando, de Noronho, and Cape 
Frio, designated in his instructions as places of rendez- 
vous, on the coast of South America, for the meeting of the 
squadron. On his passage he captured the British packet 
Nocton, took out of her 11,000/. sterling in specie, and sent 
her to the United States. Not finding the residue of the 
squadron at the places appointed, he continued his cruise off 
Rio de Janeiro until the 12th of January, captured a schooner 
laden with hides and tallow, and sent her into Porto Rico, 
and proceeded to the island of St. Catharine, on the Brazil 
coast for supplies. Having here obtained such information 
as satisfied him that he should not be joined by the other 
ships, agreeably to his instructions adapted to such an event, 
he sailed alone for the Pacific ocean, and arrived at Valparaiso, 
a Spanish town and harbour on the coast of Chili, on the 14th 
of March. Having here obtained the necessary supplies, he ran 
down the coast of Chili and Peru, and fell in with a Peruvian 
corsair, who had taken two American whale ships on the coast, 
and confined their crews as prisoners. The captain of the 
corsair declared, that, as alhes of Great Britain, he should 
capture all American vessels he should meet, under an ex- 
pectation that there might be a war between Spain and the 
United States. Captain Porter disarmed the corsair, liberated 
the Americans, and addressed a note to the viceroy of Peru, 
explaining the reasons of his conduct. He then proceeded 
to Lima, and re-captured one of the whale ships as she was 
entering the port. From Lima he cruised among the Galli- 
pago Islands, the seat of the British whale fishery, from the 
17th of April until the 3d of October; during this cruise he 
captured twelve British letters of marque, whale ships, 
having on board three hundred men, and armed with one 
hundred and seven guns : One of them he equipped as a ship 
of war, under the name of the Essex Junior, and gave her in 
command to Lieutenant Downes, retained one as a store ship, 
gave up two to the prisoners whom he paroled, and sent six 
others into port under convoy of the Essex Junior. On the 



1613. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 183 

return of Lieutenant Downcs from Valparaiso, he learned 
that a squadron under Commodore Hillyer, consisting of the 
Phebe of thirty-six guns, two sloops of war of twenty guns, 
and a store-ship, had been in pursuit of him on the coast of 
Brazil, and had left that coast, and sailed for the Pacific on 
the 6th of July. 

Possession of Madison Island. On receiving this intelh* 
gence. Captain Porter proceeded with the remainder of his 
prizes, to Nooahevah, or Madison Island, in the Washington 
groupe, lately discovered by Captain Ingraham of Boston. 
On the 19th of November he took formal possession of the 
island, in the name of the President of the United States, 
erected fort Madison, mounted four guns, deposited at the 
foot of the flag-staff a copy of his declaration, and several 
pieces of American coin ; built a village consisting of six 
houses, a rope-walk, and bakery, and established a friendly 
intercourse and trade with the natives. This formal pos- 
session was taken under a salute of seventeen guns from fort 
Madison, and the shipping, in the harbour, now denominated 
Massachusetts bay. At this station he proceeded to repair 
his ships, procure supplies, and make preparation to meet 
his expected enemy ; having accomplished these objects he 
left three of his prizes in charge of Lieutenant Gamble, under 
the guns of the battery, and returned to the coast of Chili on 
the 14th of January, 1814. 

The expedition had thus far been attended with the most 
brilliant success. Captain Porter had broken down the 
British navigation in the Pacific ; the vessels which had 
escaped capture, were panic-struck, and confined to their 
ports. The most ample protection had been afforded to the 
numerous American shipping in those seas, which until his 
arrival, were altogether unprotected. The British whale 
fishery was entirely broken up, and those engaged in it sus- 
tained losses estimated at two and an half millions of dollars. 
The captures had furnished the Essex with abundance of 
naval stores, provisions, and clothing, and enabled Captain 



184 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. 

Porter to quarter himself on his enemy, and make considera- 
ble advances to his men. Had he followed the dictates of 
prudence, on hearing of Commodore Hillyer's squadron 
being in pursuit of him, he would have avoided a force so 
manifestly superior, and returned to the United States with 
the fruits of his cruise. He had accomplished the object of 
his voyage ; there was litde more to be done in those seas ; 
and there was a squadron in pursuit of him of such superior 
force, as rendered it his imperious duty to avoid it ; but the 
maxims of prudence do not always regulate the conduct of 
the brave. The brilliant successes of 1812 had induced the 
American naval commanders to hazard combats when the 
odds was manifestly against them, while the British studiously 
avoided any rencontre, unless with evident superiority. 
The result was such as might be expected from such a course; 
American bravery continued to distinguish itself with in- 
creasing lustre in the most desperate courage, but the balance 
of captures of armed ships after the year 1812 was greatly 
against the American navy. 

Capture of the Essex. Captain Porter returned to Val- 
paraiso, and cruised off that port expressly with a view of 
meeting his enemy. His wishes were soon gratified. The 
squadron arrived at Valparaiso about the 1st of February, 
and anchored along side of the Essex ; Hillyer politely in- 
quired after the health of Captain Porter, observing that his 
ship was cleared for action, and his men prepared for board- 
ing; Porter replied, "If by any accident you get on board 
me, I assure you great confusion will take place: I am prepar- 
ed to receive you, but being in a neutral port, I shall only act 
on the defensive." Hillyer readily replied he had no such, 
intention. At this instant his ship accidentally took aback of 
the starboard bow, and her yards nearly locked with the 
Essex ; Porter immediately called his men to board the Phebe, 
who were ready at the word; when Commodore Hillyer ex- 
claimed in great agitation, " I had no intention of getting on 
board you ; I did not mean to get so near." His ship then 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 185 

fell oiT with her jib-boom over the decks of the Essex, her 
bows exposed to a broadside, her stern to the fire of the Essex 
Junior, and her crew in the greatest confusion ; in this position 
the Phebe might have been taken or destroyed in fifteen 
minutes; but respecting the neutrality of the port, Captain 
Porter made no attack. After he had brought his ship to 
anchor, Commodore Hillyer and Captain Tucker of the 
Cherub, visited Captain Porter on shore ; on being inquired 
of whether they meant to respect the neutrality of the port, 
Commodore Hillyer replied, " Sir, you have paid such respect 
to it that I feel myself bound in honour to do the same." The 
British squadron having obtained their supplies, cruised off 
the harbour of Valparaiso for six weeks closely blockading 
the Essex and Essex Junior. Captain Porter made several 
attempts to obtain a single combat with the Phebe, but with- 
out effect, the British ships keeping constantly within hail of 
each other. On the 28th of March, they were out of sight, 
and the American ships sailed out of the harbour, and endea- 
voured to escape ; but a heavy squall struck the Essex, and 
carried away her main-top-mast, precipitating the men aloft 
into the sea. Both British ships now appeared, and gave 
chase; the Essex endeavoured to regain the harbour, but being 
unable to reach the common anchorage, ran into a small bay 
three quarters of a mile to the leeward of the battery on the 
east side of the harbour, and anchored within pistol-shot of 
the shore. The British approached with an evident de- 
sign of making an attack, regardless of the neutrality of the 
place ; indeed the admirality had passed an order, in violation 
of an acknowledged rule of the law of nations, enjoining 
the commanders of their ships in the South Seas, not to re- 
spect any port as neutral where the Essex should be found. 
Captain Porter prepared his ship for action as well as her 
crippled state would admit, determined at least that the vic- 
tory should not be a bloodless one to his enemy. At four 
o'clock P. M. the action commenced at close quarters, the 
Phebe under the stern, and the Cherub on the starboard bow 

24 



186 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap &» 

of ihe Essex ; but the Cherub, soon finding herself in too 
hot a fire, immediately changed her position, and placed her- 
self under the stern also, where both ships kept up a severe 
and raking fire. The Essex, with three long twelves from 
her stern ports, managed with such skill and bravery as within 
half an hour to compel her enemy to haul off" and repair* 
It was evidently the object of Commodore Hillyer, viewing 
success as ultimately sure, to risk nothing from the daring 
courage of his antagonist, but to obtain the Essex at as 
cheap a rate as possible. All his manoeuvres were deliberate 
and wary 5 he saw his antagonist completely in his power, 
and prepared to make prize of him in the surest and safest 
manner. The situation of the Essex in the mean time, was 
galling in the extreme ; crippled and shattered, and with 
many of her crew killed and wounded, she lay waiting the 
convenience of her enemy to renew the scene of slaughter 
at his pleasure, without the hope of escape or revenge ; her 
brave crew, however, without being disheartened, were arous- 
ed to desperation, and by hoisting ensigns in the rigging and 
jacks in different parts of the ship, bid the enemy defiance, and 
evinced their determination to hold out to the last. The 
British having repaired their damages, now placed both 
ships on the starboard quarter of the Essex, out of the 
reach of her carronades and where her stern guns could not 
be brought to bear. Here they kept up a most destructive 
fire, which Captain Porter was not able to return ; the latter 
therefore saw no hopes of injuring his antagonist, but by 
getting under way and becoming the assailant ; from the man- 
gled state of his rigging, he could hoist no sail but his flying- 
jib ; this being done, he cut his cable and ran down on both 
ships, with an intention of boarding the Phebe. For a short 
time he was enabled to close with the enemy, and the firing on 
both sides was tremendous. The decks of the Essex were 
strewed with dead, and her cock-pit filled with wounded. 
The Cherub at the same time, was obliged to haul off, and 
could only keep up a distant firing with her long guns. The 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 187 

disabled state of the Essex prevented her from keeping at 
close quarters with the Phebe, who, by edging off, chose a 
distance which best suited her long guns. Many of the 
guns of the Essex were rendered useless, many had their 
whole crews destroyed, and were again manned from those 
guns which were dismounted; one gun was thus manned 
three times, and fifteen men were slain around it in the course 
of the action, though its captain escaped with only a slight 
wound. 

Captain Porter, finding it impossible to close with the 
enemy, now determined to run his ship on shore, land the 
crew, and destroy her. He had approached within musket 
shot of the shore, and had every prospect of succeeding, 
when a land-breeze suddenly set in, and drove him down 
directly upon the Phebe, exposing him to a raking fire. His 
ship was now totally unmanageble; but as the enemy were 
to the leeward, and the head of the Essex towards him. Cap- 
fain Porter still had a faint hope of boarding. At this moment 
Lieutenant Downes of the Essex Junior, came on board to 
receive the last orders of Captain Porter, expecting every 
moment when he would be a prisoner or a corpse. The ser- 
vices of the Essex Junior could now be of no avail. Captain 
Porter therefore directed him to return to his own ship, and 
be prepared for defending or destroying her. The slaughter 
onboard the Essex now became horrible; the enemy con- 
tinued to rake her while she could not bring a gun to bear 
upon him. Still her commander, with an obstinacy that bor- 
dered on desperation, kept up the hoj>eless cotiflict. As a 
last expedient, a hawser was bent to the sheet anchor, and 
the anchor cut from the bows to bring the ship's head round ; 
this succeeded, and the broadside of the Essex was agaiu 
brought to bear; as the enemy were much crippled, Captaih 
Porter thought he might drift out of gun-shot before he dis- 
covered that the Essex was anchored. The hawser parted, 
the Essex drifted towards the enemy, and her last hope 
failed. She had taker %e several times during the action. 



188 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. 

and Avas at this moment on fire both fore and aft ; the flames 
were bursting up each hatchway; a large quantity of pow- 
der below had exploded, attended with the cry that the mag- 
azine was on fire. Captain Porter turned his attention to 
rescuing as many of his brave crew as possible; finding his 
distance from the shore did not exceed three quarters of a 
mile, he hoped many would be able to save themselves, 
should the ship blow up ; his boats had been cut to pieces, 
but he directed as many of his men as could swim to make 
for the shore ; some reached it, some were taken by the 
enemy, and many perished in the attempt; most of the crew 
however, preferred remaining on board the ship, and sharing 
the fate of their gallant commander. Renewed exertions were 
now made to extinguish the flames, which finally succeeded, 
and the firing recommenced, but the crew were so weakened 
that all further resistance was evidently fruitless. On sum- 
moning the officers of divisions for consultation, Captain Por- 
ter found only Lieutenant M'Knight remaining. Accounts 
from every part of the ship were deplorable, representing her 
in a most shattered and crij)pled condition, in imminent dan- 
ger of sinking, and so crowded with the wounded and dying, 
that even the birth-deck could hold no more; and many were 
killed while under the operations of the surgeon. All the 
carpenter's gang were either killed or wounded ; one of them, 
who had been over the side to stop the leaks, had his slings 
shot away, and with the utmost difficulty saved himself from 
(frowning. In the mean time it had become calm, and from 
the smoothness of the water, and the secure distance at which 
the enemy lay, he was enabled to keep up a constant fire, 
aiming with coolness and certainty, as at a target, and hulling 
her with every shot. At twenty minutes past six, Captain 
Porter gave the painful order to strike the colours. This 
not being immediately perceived, the firing continued for 
about ten minutes, Captain Porter concluding that they meant 
to give no quarter, was about to rehoist his flag, and fight 
until his ship sunk, when the firing on the part of the British 



18t5. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. J89 

ceased, and the ship was taken possession of by the enemy. 
During the action, Mr. Poinsett, the American consul at Val- 
paraiso, called on the governor to protect the Essex, and 
maintain the neutraUty of the port, with the guns of the fort; 
the governor replied, that he would send an officer to request 
Commodore Hillyer to cease firing, but should not use force 
under any circumstances. This sanguinary and obstinately 
fought battle, was in the presence of the whole population 
of Valparaiso, and the neighbouring country. Thousands of 
spectators covered the neighbouring heights ; some of the 
shot fell among the crowd, who, in the eagerness to gratify 
their curiosity, ventured down on the beach. Touched w^th 
the forlorn situation of the Essex, and filled with admiration 
at the persevering bravery of her crew, a generous anxiety 
ran through the multitude for her fate ; shouts of delight arose, 
when by any vicissitude of battle, or prompt expedient, a 
chance seemed to turn up in her favour; and the eager spec- 
tators were seen to wring their hands, and utter groans of 
sympathy, when the transient hope was defeated, and the 
gallant little frigate once more become an unresisting object 
of deliberate slaughter. The crew of the Essex at the com- 
mencement of the action, consisted of 255 men; 58 were 
killed, 65 wounded, and 31 missing; at the close of the action 
there were only seventy-five men on board capable of duty. 
The crew of the Phebe consisted of 320, and of the Cherub 
of 180 men.* The capturing force in men and guns, was 
double the captured. Although a valuable ship and a brave 
crew were lost in the capture of the Essex, yet such consum- 
mate skill and bravery were displayed in the defence, as fully 
maintained the honour of the nation, and rendered the Amer- 
ican navy formidable to their enemies. 

Return of Commodore Porter. An arrangement was made 
between the two commanders, that the Essex Junior should 
be disarmed, neutralized, and equipped at the expense of the 

* Captain Porter's letter to the secretary of the navy. 



190 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 9. 

American government, and being furnished with a passport 
to protect her from British cruisers, proceed with the prison- 
ers on parole, to the United States. In pursuance of this 
arrangement, Captain Porter, with the remains of his crew, 
commenced the voyage. On the 5th of July, off the coast of 
Long-Island, he was stopped by the British ship Saturn ; his 
papers examined, and he allowed to proceed. Standing in the 
same course with the Saturn, he was again brought to about 
two hours afterwards, his papers re-examined, and his ship 
overhauled and detained. On Captain Porter's remonstrat- 
ing against these proceedings, he was told that Commodore 
Hillyer had no authority to make such an arrangement, and 
that it would not be regarded. At seven o'clock the next 
morning,, the ships being then about forty miles from land, 
off the east e:id of Long-Island, and Captain Porter seeing no 
prospect of his ship's being released, and considering him- 
self di'-.-.harged from his parole by this detention, in contra- 
vention of it, ordered his boat to be lowered down, manned 
and armed, into which he threw himself, and reached the 
shore in safety. The inhabitants strongly suspecting him to 
be an English officer, closely interrogated, and were about 
to "arrest him-, his story appeared so extraordinary, that they 
were disposed to discredit it, but on showing his commis- 
sion, all doobts were removed, and they treated him 
with the most enthusiastic attention. On his arrival at 
•New- York, the people took his horses from the carriage, and 
amid the huzzas of the citizens, conveyed him to his lodgings. 
The Essex Junior was soon after liberated, and arrived at 
New-York. 

Result of the J^iaval War m 1813. During the season of 
1813, numerous privateers issued from the various ports in 
the United States, and harassed and captured British com- 
merce in every direction. The public and private armed 
vessels of the United States, within the year 1813, captured 
and sent into port, or destroyed at sea, four hundred and seven- 
teen British ships, and estimating ihcra at an average of forty 



1813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 191 

thousand dollars, the loss to the British trade and naviga- 
tion amounted to sixteen and a half millions of dollars. 
Owing to the greater caution of the British in combating 
with the American navy, the latter had made no captures of 
British frigates to add to their trophies ; yet the valour dis- 
played in every rencontre, fully supported that high character 
which they had acquired the preceding year. The strict 
blockade of the sea-board this season, interrupted all commu- 
nication by water ; travelling and transportation between the 
cities on the coast was altogether by land. The hazards, 
inconveniencies, and expenses, of such an intercourse, led to 
an investigation and devolopment of the facilities and re- 
sources of the country for canal navigation, and laid the 
foundation for very important and lasting improvement^;. 



CHAPTER X. 

Mobile occupied; annexed to the Mississippi Territorj' Spanish authori- 

. ties removed to Pensacoia. — Southern Indians. — Methods taken by the 
United States to civihze them. — Visited by Tecumseh. — Instigated to 
War. — Massacre at Fort Munms. — Proceedings in Tennessee and 
Georg-ia relating to the Creek War. — Tennessee Forces under Gen- 
eral Jackson. — Battle at Tallushatches. — Tallageda. — Destruction of 
the Hillabee Towns by General White. — Proceedings of the Geor^-ia 
Forces under General Floyd. — Battle at the Autossee Towns. Bat- 
tle at Camp Defiance. — General Claiborne's Expedition against Ecca- 
nachaca. — Battle. — Term of service of General Jackson's Volunteer^ 

expires. — Most of them leave him. — His Army recruited His first 

Expedition to the Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. — Battle. — Returns 
to Fort Strother. — Battle at Enotachopeo Creek. — Second Expedition 

to the Great Bend. — Battle. — End of the Creek War. — Treaty. 

Rapid settlement of the Country by the Whites. 

Extent of Louisiana. The treaty by which France sold 
to the United Slates a district of country under the name of 
Louisiana, contained no definite boundaries. The mouth of the 
Mississippi and the Island of Orleans, were first discovered 
and occupied by a Frenchman of the name of La Salle ; ia 
consequence of which, his sovereign Louis XIV. claimed all 
the country northward of it to his Canada possessions, west- 
ward to the Pacific ocean, and eastward indefinitely until it 
came in contact with countries already occupied by other 
European powers, and gave it the name of Louisiana. This 
instrument, the United States claimed, conveyed to them a 
country extending eastward of the Mississippi to the Perdido 
river, thirty miles easterly of Mobile bay, and westerly to the 
Pacific ocean, comprehending a much larger portion of 
country than the original United States. Spain, from whom 
this territory had been recently wrested by France without 
an equivalent, contended that it embraced only the city and 

'25 



194 'history of the late WAE. Chap. 10. 

island of Orleans, and a limited territory on the west bank 
of the river. There being no common arbiter to decide 
this question, the party best able to assert its pretensions 
must prevail, and the other submit. For some time after 
the ratification of the Louisiana treaty, no formal possession 
of the contested territory was taken by the American gov- 
ernment, and the national authorities seemed to oscillate be- 
tween the right of Spain and that of the United States. Im- 
perious circumstances, however, at length called upon the 
President to adopt decisive measures, and induced him to 
give orders to the governor of Louisiana for the occupation 
of the contested district; anxious however, to avoid any col- 
lision with foreign powers, he restricted him to such parts of 
the territory as were in a revolutionary state, and directed 
him not to molest the regular Spanish authorities. Under 
these orders. Governor Claiborne excluded the town Mobile 
and the adjacent country from the American jurisprudence, 
and the courts and revenue oifice of the United States were 
established at Fort Stoddard, within their acknowledged 
jurisdiction. On the eve of a war with Great Britain it be- 
came important that this place should not be in the possession 
of her friend and ally, as by means of its waters an easy 
communication was opened with the hostile Indians of the 
south-west. 

Occupation of Mobile. With these views a law was passed 
in May 1812, annexing the country west of the Perdido, and 
south of the 31st degree of latitude, including the district of 
Mobile, to the Mississippi territory ; establishing the territorial 
laws, and granting them a representation in the provincial 
legislature. The Spanish garrison was required to leave 
the district. After a long course of negotiation with the 
</overnor of Pensacola, he refused to remove the garrison ; 
and General Wilkinson, the commanding officer at New-Or- 
leans, was ordered to take possession. On the 27th of 
March, he ordered Commodore Shaw to send a detachment 
of gun-boats to take possession of the bay of Mobile, and 



1813* HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 495 

cut off all communication with Pensacola 5 and Lieutenant 
Colonel Boyer, then stationed with a respectable force at 
Fort Stoddard, on the Mobile river forty-four miles above its 
mouth, to be in readiness to march down on Mobile at a day's 
notice. Having made these previous arrangements, the 
General left New-Orleans on the 29th, and embarked on 
board the schooner Alligator. The troops destined for the 
expedition were ordered to rendezvous at the pass Christian, 
On the 30th, the weather being calm, and the Alligator una- 
ble to proceed, the general left the schooner, and took a 
barge, which upset in the lake in fifteen feet water, and the 
general and his suit lay on the keel for some time without any 
prospect of relief; two vessels passed, but did not observe 
them : at length the wreck was discovered by some Spanish 
fishermen, who came to the relief of the half-drowned and 
famished party. They towed them on shore, righted the 
boat, and the general again embarked with his boatmen, and 
reached Petit Coquillc at midnight. The next day<|in ex- 
press was sent to Colonel Boyer to fall down the river and 
occupy the bank opposite the town. The troops embarked 
from their general rendezvous on the 7th, arrived in the 
bay of Mobile on the 12th of April, and landed near the 
fort at two o'clock in the morning of the next day. The 
sound of their bugles, as they were preparing to march up in 
front of the fort, was the first notice which the Spanish com- 
mandant had of General Wilkinson's approach. At noon 
six hundred men appeared in column in front of the fort, and 
demanded its surrender. A short negotiation between the 
general and commandant took place, which ended in the 
evacuation of the fort on the 15th, and the removal of the 
Spanish authorities to Pensacola. 

Southern Indians. The southern Indians, immediately 
northward of this district, inhabit the Mississippi territory, 
bounded on the north by the state of Tennessee, east by 
Georgia, south by the Floridas, and west by the Mississippi, 
being about three hundred miles square. The soil and cli- 



I9e HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. 10. 

mate are equal to any in the United States. The Indian pop- 
ulation, comprehending the Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and 
Cherokee nations, is estimated at 60,000, and their warriors 
at about 6,000, and are as numerous as all the other tribes in 
the United States, east of the Mississippi.* This population 
is in a semi-civilized state, approaching much nearer in their 
manners, customs, and modes of living, to the whites, that any 
other Indian nation. The American government early turned 
their attention to these people, and established an agency 
among them, for the purpose of furnishing them with the 
implements of husbandry, domestic manufacture, and 
other necessaries, and instructing them in the arts of civilized 
life. Under the judicious superintendence of Colonel Haw- 
kins, they had long been kept in peace, and induced to turn 
their attention from hunting, to the cultivation of the soil. 
Many of them were regular farmers, and possessed stocks of 
cattle, horses, and swine. Their women were taught to spin 
and weave; intermarriages with the whites were frequent, 
from which had sprung a race of half-breeds, which had 
established an important and useful chain of connexion 
between the white and red inhabitants of the territory. The 
direct communication between Louisiana, and the Atlantic 
states was through this country, and the mails between the 
city of Washington, and New-Orleans, were regularly estab- 
lished on this route. Surrounded on three sides by the white 
population of the United States, and numerous white settle- 
ments in the heart of their country, their safety, and even 
existence, depended on the preservation of peace. Sensible 
of this, they were ready, when any of their people had com- 
mitted depredations or murders on the border inhabitants, to 
give them up to be punished ; and whenever they suffered 
by trespasses from the whites, instead of revenging themselves, 
ihey presented their complaints to the American authorities, 
who readily listened to, and redressed their injuries. At the 

** Dr. Morse. 



3813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 19^ 

trading-houses established at various posts in their territory, 
under the direction of Colonel Hawkins, they were enabled 
to exchange at a fair price, their peltry, for articles suited to 
their wants. From this peaceful and happy state, they were 
most unfortunately seduced to take a part in the war. The 
British authorities early perceived that a war with the south- 
ern Indians, would cause a powerful diversion of the forces 
destined to the northern frontier, interrupt the chain of com- 
munication between Louisiana and the eastern states, and 
cause such a desolation on the southern frontier, as in their 
view, would greatly promote the objects of the war. By 
means of runners, a constant intercourse was kept up between 
the Indians of the south and the north-west. This species of 
intercourse is common to all the Indian nations, and among 
many of them is as regular as the mails of the United States. 
The runner goes with incredible swiftness, carries, and deliv- 
ers his messages laconically but correctly, receives the 
answers, and returns with the same speed. They are every 
where well received and entertained; the news they carry 
always compensating their entertainers. In time of war, the 
privileges of a flag are considered as attached to the runners. 
So regular and uninterrupted was this species of communica- 
tion, that the Indians of the south were much earlier, and 
more correctly informed of the events of the campaign of 
1812, on the north-western frontier, than their neighbouring 
white inhabitants. 

Indian War in the South. Tecumseh, the celebrated 
Shawanee chief, and British ally, appeared among the In- 
dians of the south, attended their councils, and by every art of 
persuasion endeavoured to induce them to join in a league 
with their red brethren of the north, and with the aid of the 
British, to extirpate the whites. With peculiar adroitness, he 
availed himself of the assistance of their prophets, and of the 
prevalent fanaticism, to induce them to believe that the Great 
Spirit had ordered the destruction of the whites, and the re- 
possession of their country by the red men. The capture of 



198 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10, 

jDetroit, and the successes of the British and Indians in the 
north-west, in the year 1812, gave full credit to such repre- 
sentations. Thus wrought upon, and liberally supplied with 
the implements of war by the British, through the chaimel of 
the Floridas, a large majority of the Creek nation, by far the 
most numerous of the southern Indians, and a considerable 
portion of the other tribes, were induced to commence hostili- 
ties against the United States. Several murders and rob- 
beries were committed, and the perpetrators refused to be 
given up; evident appearances of hostiHty were now every 
where visible. Alarm and consternation prevailed among the 
white inhabitants; those of the Tensaw district, a considera- 
ble settlement on the Alabama, fled for safety to fort Mimms 
on that river, sixteen miles above fort Stoddard. The place 
was garrisoned by one hundred and fifty volunteers of the 
Mississippi territory, under Major Bcasly. The inhabitants 
collected at the fort, amounted to about three hundred. 

Massacre at Fort Mwims. At eleven o'clock in the fore- 
noon of the 30th of August, a body of Indians to the amount of 
six or seven hundred warriors, issued from the adjoining 
wood, and approached the fort ; they advanced within a few 
rods of it before the alarm was given. As the centinel cried 
out, "Indians," they immediately gave a war-whoop, and 
rushed in at the gate before the garrison had time to shut it. 
This decided their fate. Major Beasly was mortally wounded 
at the commencement of the assault ; he ordered his men to 
secure the ammunition, and retreat into the house; he was 
himself carried into the kitchen, and afterwards consumed in 
the flames. The fort was originally square, but Major Beasly 
had enlarged it by extending the lines upon two sides about 
fifty feet, and putting up a new side, into which the gate was 
removed ; the old line of pickets were standing, and the 
Indians on rushing in at the gate, obtained possession of the 
outer part, and through the port holes of the old line of pick- 
ets, fired on the people who held the interior. On the oppo- 
site side of the fort was an ofTsct or bastion made round the 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 19.9 

back gate, which being open on the outside, was occupied by 
the Indians, who, with the axes that lay scattered about, cut 
down the gate. The people in the fort kept possession of 
the port.-holes on the other lines, and fired on the Indians who 
remained on the outside. Some of the Indians ascended the 
block-house at one of the corners, and fired on the garrison 
below, but were soon dislodged ; they succeeded, however, 
in setting fire to a house near the pickets, which communi- 
cated to the kitchen, and from thence to the main dwelling- 
house. When the people in the fort saw the Indians in full 
possession of the outer court, the gate open, the men fast 
falling, and their houses on flames, they gave up all for lost, 
and a scene of the most distressing horror ensued. The 
women and children sought refuge in the upper story of the 
dwelling-house, and were consumed in the flames, the Indians 
dancing and yelling round them with the most savage delight. 
Those who were without the buildings were murdered and 
scalped without distinction of age or sex; seventeen only esca- 
ped. The battle and massacre lasted from eleven in the forenoon 
until six in the afternoon, by which time the work of destruction 
was fully completed, the fort and buildings entirely demol- 
ished, and upwards of four hundred men, women, and chil- 
dren, massacred.* 

This event spread consternation and dismay through all 
the neighbouring settlements; the inhabitants fled with the 
utmost precipitation, without taking any means of subsistance 
to fort Stoddard, Mobile, and other places, where they 
deemed themselves safe from the fury of the savages. Their 
dwellings and property were left a prey to the Indians, who 
plundered and laid waste the adjacent country to a great 
extent, without opposition. 

Exertions of the States of Georgia and Tennessee. These 
unexpected and calamitous events excited the most lively 
sensations in the neighbouring states of Tennessee and Geor- 

* Judg'e Toulmin's letter. 



aOO HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CnAr. iO. 

gia, and led to prompt and spirited exertions. Eighteen 
hundred volunteers under the command of General Floyd, 
were immediately organized, equipped, and marched into the 
southern section of the Creek nation from the state of Georgia. 
The legislature of Tennessee were in session when the news 
arrived. They immediately passed an act authorizing the 
governor to raise thirty-five hundred men, for the purpose of 
protecting the inhabitants of the Mississippi territory, giving 
security, to their own borders, and repelling the incursions of 
the Indians. Three hundred thousand dollars were ordered 
to be raised, and appropriated to defray the expenses. 

The Tennessee forces were commanded by generals Jack- 
son and Cocke. The governors of the two states immedi- 
ately communicated their proceedings to the war department. 
Their measures were approved by the executive, and the 
troops placed upon the United States establishment. 

Destruction of the Tallushatchcs. The infatuated Creeks 
were now doomed to atone in the most exemplary manner 
for the massacre at fort Mimms, and their subsequent 
ravages. The first object to which the troops under Gen- 
eral Jackson were directed, was their encampments at the 
Tallushatches towns, on the Coosa river, a northern branch 
of the Alabama. On the 2d of November, General Coffee 
was detached with a part of his brigade of cavalry, and a 
corps of mounted riflemen, amounting to nine hundred, against 
this assemblage. He arrived on the morning of the third, 
and encircled the encampment with his cavalry; when he had 
approached within half a mile, the Creeks sounded the war- 
whoop, and prepared for action. Captain Hammond's and 
Lieutenant Patterson's companies advanced within the circle 
and gave a few shots for the purpose of drawing out the 
enemy. The Creeks formed and made a violent charge. 
Captain Hammond, according to his orders, gave way, and 
was pursued by the Indians, until they met the right column, 
which gave them a general fire, and then charged. The 
Indians immcdiatelv retreated within and behind their build- 



1B13. HISTORIC OF THE LA'J'E WAR. 201 

^ngs, and fought with desperation 5 but their destruction was 
soon accomplished. The soldiers rushed up to the doors of 
their houses, broke them open, and in a few minutes killed 
the last warrior of them : not one escaped to carry the news. 
None asked for quarters, but fought as long as they could 
stand or sit, and met death in various shapes without a groan. 
Two hundred warriors were killed, eighty-four women and 
children taken prisoners and discharged ; of General Coffee's 
troops five only were killed, and forty-one wounded. 

General Jackson established his head-quarters at the Tet\ 
Islands on the Coosa, and fortified his position, giving it thf 
name of Camp Strother. On the evening of the 7th of No- 
vember, a runner arrived from the friendly Indians at the 
Tallageda fort, thirty miles below on the same river, giving 
information that the hostile Creeks had encamped in great 
force near that place, and were preparing to destroy it, ear- 
nestly soliciting immediate assistance. General Jackson 
determined on commencing his march the same night, and 
despatched a runner to General White, informing him of his 
movement, and urging him to hasten his march to camp Stro- 
ther, to protect it in his advance. He had previously ordered 
General White to form a junction with him as speedily as 
possible, and received his assurances that he would be with 
him on the 7th. General Jackson immediately commenced 
crossing the river at the Ten Islands, leaving his baggage 
wagons and whatever might retard his progress in the camp, 
and halted at midnight within six miles of the Tallageda. 
Here a runner arrived with a note from General While in- 
forming him that he had altered his course, and was on his 
march back to join General Cocke at the mouth of the 
Chataga. 

Battle of Tallageda. It was then too late for the general to 
change his plan of operations, or make any new arrangements. 
He renewed his march at throe o'clock, and at sun-rise, come 
within half a mile of his enemy, whom he found encamped a 
quarter of a mile in advance of the fort.^ He immediately form- 

26 



20-2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chak. iO. 

ed the line of battle ; the militia on the left, the volunteers oii 
the right, and the cavalry on the wings ; and advanced in a 
curve, keeping his rear connected with the advance of the 
infantry line, so as to enclose the enemy in a circle. The 
advance guard met the attack of the Indians with intrepidity, 
and having poured upon them four or five rounds, fell back 
to the main body. The enemy pursued, and were met by 
the front line. This line was broken, and several companies 
of militia retreated. At this moment a corps of cavalry un- 
der Lieutenant Colonel Dyer, which was kept as a reserve, 
were ordered to dismount and fill the vacancy. The order 
was promptly executed, the militia soon rallied, and returned 
to the charge. The fire now became general along the first 
line and the contiguous wings. The Indians fled, and were 
uieland pursued in every direction. The right wing followed 
them with a destructive fire to the mountains, three miles dis- 
tant. 'J 'wo hundred and ninety of their warriors were found 
dead, and a large number killed in the pursuit, who were 
not found. General Jackson lost fifteen men killed, and 
eighteen wounded. In consequence of the failure of General 
White to ])rocced to camp Slrother, General Jackson was 
obliged to give up further f)ursuit, and immediately return to 
his camp to protect his sick, wounded, and baggage. 

The Tennessee militia and volunteers called into service 
at the commencement of the Creek war, consisted of two 
divisions, one of West Tennessee, commanded by General 
Jackson, and the other of East Tennessee, commanded by 
Major General Cocke. Major General Thomas Pinckney, 
of the United States army, was commander in chief of the 
military district within which these troops were raised and 
employed, and in that capacity, had the general direction of 
their operations, after they were taken into the United States 
service. General Jackson, as senior major general of the 
Tennessee forces, claimed the right of commanding the whole 
that were in service. General Cocke, of the East Tennessee 
division, considered himself as possessing a command inde- 



?8i3. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 203 

pendent of General Jackson. This circumstance produced 
a collision in the orders, and the embarrassment to which 
General White, who commanded a brigade in General Cocke's 
division, was subject ; while General Jackson ordered him 
to march to camp Strother, to protect it in his absence. Gen- 
eral Cocke ordered him to march in a contrary direction and 
attack the Hillabee towns, distant from fort Armstrong one 
hundred miles. 

Destruclion of the Hillabee Towns. General White con- 
sidered himself bound to obey the latter order, and the 11 th 
of November marched with the moutited infantry, cavalry, 
and a corps of friendly Cherokee Indians, to Oakfusky, 
where he took five hostile Creeks who had been sent out as 
spies, and burned a small village. On the 17th, he arrived 
within six miles of the Hillabees, the object of his expedi- 
tion ; and early in the morning of the 18th, surrounded and 
completely surprised the town, killed sixty warriors, took 
two hundred and fifty-six prisoners, and returned to fort Arm- 
strong, without the loss of a man, either killed or wounded. 

General Floyd? s Operations. While the Tennessee forces 
were performing these operations in the northern sections of 
the Creek country, the Georgia troops under General Floyd 
entered their territory from the east. The general, having 
received information that a number of hostile Indians had 
assembled at the Autosee towns, on the southern bank of the 
Talapoosa, eighteen miles from the Hickory ground, and 
twenty above the junction of that river with the Coosa, pro- 
ceeded to that place with a corps of nine hundred and fifty 
militia, and four hundred friendly Indians; and on the morn- 
ing of the 29th of November, at half past six, appeared in 
line of battle, in front of the principal town. The Indians 
presented themselves at every point, and fought v/ith despe- 
rate fury. The well directed fire of the artillery, and the 
charge of the bayonet, soon drove them from the ground, and 
obliged them to take shelter in the copses, thickets, and out- 
houses in rear of the town. Manv concealed themselv€^ in 



204 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10- 

raves previously provided as places of retreat, along thr 
high bluffs on the river, which were thickly covered with 
reeds and brush-wood. The friendly Indians were divided 
into four companies, under leaders of their own choice, and 
directed to cross Canhabee creek, and occupy that flank to 
prevent escapes from the Tallisee town, situated about one 
hundred rods below the Autosee. Instead of obeying this 
order, soon after the action commenced, most of them throng- 
ed in disorder into the rear of the lines ; but the Covetans 
under M'Intoslv and the Tookabotchians, under Mad Dog's 
Son, joined the flanks of the militia, and fought with a bravery 
equal to disciplined troops. At nine oVlock the Indians were 
completely driven from the plain, and the houses of both 
towns were in flames. Warriors from eight towns had 
assembled at Autosee, which their prophets had taught them 
to believe was holy ground, on which no white man could 
tread without inevitable destruction. Four hundred build- 
ings were burned, some of which were of a superior cast for 
the dwellings of savages. The loss of the Indians was esti- 
mated at two hundred killed ; among whom were the Aulosec 
and Tallisee kings. The number of wounded could not be 
ascertained, as they were taken ofl' by their friends, but must 
have been very considerable. General Floyd was severely 
wounded, and Adjutant General Newman slightly. The 
whole loss of the Georgians was eleven killed, and fifty-four 
wounded. The friendly Indians lost several killed and 
wounded, but their loss was not great, as most of them sought 
places of safety at the commencement of the action. From 
the Autosee towns. General Floyd, after resting several days, 
proceeded to camp Defiance, fifty miles further to the west, 
into the enemy's country. At this place, at 3 o'clock in the 
morning of the 2d of January, his camp was assailed by a 
desperate band of hostile Indians, who stole unobserved upon 
the centinels, fired on them, and immediately rushed on the 
lines. In twenty minutes the troops were formed in order of 
battle, and the action became general. The front and both 



1»13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 205 

flanks were closely pressed at once; but the skilful conduct 
of the officers, and firmness of the men, repulsed the enemy 
xit every point The incessant fire of Captain Thomas's 
artillery, and Adame^s riflemen, preserved the front line. Both 
these companies suffered greatly. Captain Broadnax, who 
comnnanded one of the piquet-guards, maintained his post with 
great bravery until the enemy gained his rear, and then cut 
his way through them to the lines. Timpochee Barnard, a 
half-breed, at the head of the Uchies, distinguished himself, 
and contributed to the relief of the piquet-guard. Most of 
the other friendly Indians took refuge within the lines, and 
remained inactive spectators of the contest. As soon as it 
had become light enough to distinguish objects. Majors Wat- 
son's and Freeman's battalions wheeled up at right angles 
with Majors Booth's and Cleaveland's, and made a vigorous 
charge. The enemy fled in every direction before the bayo- 
net. The signal was then given for the cavalry to charge, 
which was executed with great eflfect. The Indians left 
thirty-seven dead on the field, and from the war-clubs, head- 
dresses, and trails of blood found in various directions, their 
whole loss must have been much greater. The friendly 
Indians, with Merriwether's and Ford's rifle companies, and 
Hamilton's cavalry, pursued them through Caulabee swamp, 
where they were trailed by their blood. In the first onset 
Adjutant General Newman received three balls, which pre- 
vented his further service in the action. General Floyd's 
loss was seventeen killed, and one hundred and thirty 
wounded; of the friendly Indians five were killed, and fifteen 
wounded.* 

General Claiborne'' s Operations. On the 13th of Decem- 
ber, General Claiborne marched a detachment of volunteers, 
from fort Claiborne, on the east bank of the Alabama, eighty- 
five miles above fort Stoddard, with a view of destroying some 
towns of the Creeks above the mouth of the Cahawba, He 



* General Floyd's letter. 



206 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAB. Chap. 10- 

proceeded up the river one hundred and ten miles, when he 
arrived at a newly-erected town, called Eccanachaca, or 
holy ground, occupied by a large body of Indians under the 
command of the noted chief Witherford, who commanded at 
the massacre at fort Mimms. On the 23d, at noon, the right 
wing, commanded by Colonel Carson, commenced the attack 
on the enemy, who had been apprised of General Claiborne's 
approach, and judiciously chosen his ground. Before the 
centre arrived so as to join in the action, the Indians fled in 
all directions, leaving thirty dead in the field. A pursuit was 
immediately ordered, but owing to the nature of the country, 
nothing was effected. The town was nearly surrounded by 
swamps and deep ravines, which rendered the approach diffi- 
cult, and facilitated the escape of the enemy. A large quan- 
tity of provisions, and property of various kinds was found, 
which, together with the town, consisting of two hundred 
houses, was destroyed. The next day was employed in 
destroying another town, eight miles further up the river, and 
in taking and destroying the enemy's boats. Eccanachaca 
was built after the commencement of hostilities, as a place of 
safety for th« inhabitants of several villages; and was the 
residence of their principal prophets, Witherford, Francis, 
and Singuister. Three of the Shawanee, or Tecumseh's tribe, 
from the north, were found among the slain. General Clai- 
borne had one killed, and six wounded. At this town was 
found a letter from the governor of Pensacola, directed to 
Witherford, and the other chiefs, congratulating them on their 
success at fort Mimms, encouraging them to continue the 
war, and promising them presents, arms, and munitions 
from Havana. 

Tennessee Volunteers, The Tennessee volunteers, under 
General Jackson, had been raised, equipped, and received 
into service by virtue of an act of Congress of the Gth of 
February, 18 1 2, which provides, "That the President may 
accept the services of such volunteers, as offering themselves 
to an amount not exceeding fifty thousand, who shall be 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 207 

liable to be called upon to do military duty at any time 
within two years from the time their services are accepted, 
and shall be bound to continue in service for the term of 
twelve months after they shall have arrived at the place of 
rendezvous, unless sooner discharged." These volunteers 
were first ordered to rendezvous at Nashville, in the state of 
Tennessee, on the 10th of December, 1812. From thence 
they were ordered down the Mississippi, and to encamp at 
the Natchez, and wait the further order of Government. On 
the 5th of January following, two days before the departure 
of the troops from Nashville, an order issued from the war 
department, directing their immediate discharge, and all the 
public property in the possession of General Jackson to be 
delivered to General Wilkinson. This order was not com- 
municated to General Jackson until some time after his arri- 
val at the Natchez. The tz-oops under his command had just 
accomplished a tedious winter voyage down the Mississippi, 
of five hundred miles, and were settling themselves in winter- 
quarters, when the orders were received by which they were 
to be there disbanded, and left to make their way home 
through a wilderness of five hundred miles, without pay, or 
the means of subsistence. General Jackson refused a com- 
pliance with this order, and retained the troops in service 
until they could be marched back to Nashville, with suffi- 
cient provisions, and means for that purpose. The troops 
arrived at Nashville on the 1st of May following, and were 
there discharged; having performed a tedious winter voyage 
of five hundred miles, and a still more tedious countermarch 
of the same length for no possible beneficial purpose. The 
object of this expedition, and the reasons why the orders for 
discharging the troops were not sooner communicated to Gen- 
eral Jackson, and what provision was to be made for their 
return from the Natchez, if the order had been complied with, 
have never been explained by the secretary of war. Gen- 
eral Jackson's conduct was approved, and the pay and sub- 
sistence of the troops continued until their discharge at Nash- 



308 lllSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1« 

ville. The same troops were again called into service early 
in Octobei 1813, under General Jackson, to oppose the 
Creeks. After their return from the batde of Tallageda, they 
claimed that their term of service ivould expire on the 10th 
of December, 1813, being twelve months from the time of 
their first rendezvous at Nsshville. General Jackson ex- 
hausted all the arts of persuasion to induce them to continue 
in service a longer period; he by no means admitted their 
claim to be discharged, contending that they were bound to' 
continue in actual service one year out of the two, if re- 
quired ; but waiving that question, the disbanding the troops 
at this period would expose the Mississippi territory, and 
the frontier inhabitants of Tennessee and Georgia to certain 
destruction. The Creeks, though severely chastised, were 
by no means subdued. They were then collecting in large 
numbers, at various points in the territory, and when they 
found this army disbanded, would renew their ravages with 
increased fury. These considerations had but little effect; 
most of his army left him on or soon after the 10th of Decem- 
ber, their places however were partially supplied by newly 
raised volunteers. 

On the 17th of January, 1814, General Jackson finding 
himself in a situation to commence further offensive opera- 
tions, marched from his encampment at fort Strother with 
nine hundred volunteers, who were soon afterwards joined by 
three hundred friendly Indians, against an assemblage of 
Creeks at the Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. On the even- 
ing of the 21st, he fell upon a large trail, which indicated 
the neighbourhood of a strong force. At eleven o'clock at 
night, his spies came in and informed him that there was a 
large encampment of Indians at about three miles distance, who 
from their war-whoops and dances appeared to be apprised 
of his approach, and would either commence a night attack 
upon him, or make their escape. Having received this in- 
telligence, General Jackson put himself in readiness to meet 
an attack, or pursue them as soon as daylight appeared. 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 209 

Battle at the Tallapoosa. At six o'clock in the morning a 
vigorous attack was made upon his left flank, which sus- 
tained it with bravery ; the action continued tp rage at that 
point, and on the left of the rear, for half an hour. As soon 
as it became light enough to pursue, the left wing was rein- 
forced by Captain Ferril's company of infantry, and led on 
to the charge by General Coffee. The enemy were com- 
pletely routed at every point; and the friendly Indians joined 
in the pursuit, they were chased about two miles with great 
slaughter. The chase being over. General Coffee was de- 
tached to burn their encampment, but finding it fortified, he 
returned to the main body for artillery. Half an hour after 
his return, a large force appeared and commenced an attack 
upon the right flank. General Ceffee was permitted, at his 
own request, to take two hundred men and turn the enemy's 
left, but by some mistake only fifty-four followed him ; Avith 
these he commenced an attack on their left ; two hundred of the 
friendly Indians were ordered to fall upon the enemy's right, 
and co-operate with the general. The Creeks intended this 
attack upon Jackson's right as a feint, and expecting to find 
his left weakened, directed their main force against that 
quarter ; but General Jackson, perceiving the object of the 
enemy, had directed that flank to remain firm in its position, 
and at the first moment of attack they were supported by the 
reserve under Captain Ferril. The whole line met the ap- 
proach of the enemy with vigour, and after a few fires, made 
a bold and decisive charge. The Creeks fled with precipi- 
tation, and were pursued a considerable distance with a de- 
structive fire. In the meantime General Coffee was contend- 
ing on the right with a superior force ; the friendly Indians 
who had been ordered to his support, seeing the enemy 
routed on the left, quit their post and joined in the chase. 
That being over, Jim Fife, with the friendly Indians, was 
again ordered to support General Coffee ; as soon as he 
reached him, they made a decisive charge, routed the enemy, 
and pursued him three miles. Forty-five of the enemy's slain, 



210 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10 

were found. General Coffee was wounded in the body, and 
his aid Colonel Donaldson, and three others slain. The next 
day General Jackson commenced his return march to fort 
Strother. His men and horses were exhausted, and he was 
not furnished with either provisions or forage for a longer 
stay. The enemy, supposing they had defeated the general, 
hung on his rear; and in the morning of the 24th, as he was 
on the point of crossing Enotachopeo creek, the front guard 
having crossed with part of the flank columns and the wound- 
ed, and the artillery just entering the water, an attack com- 
menced on the rear. The main part of the rear guard precipi- 
tately gave way, leaving only twenty-five men under Colonel 
Carrol, who maintained their ground as long as possible. 
There then remained on the left of the creek to meet the 
enemy, the remnant of the rear guard, the artillery company, 
and Captain RusselPs company of spies. Lieutenant Arm- 
strong, of the artillery, immediately ordered them to form and 
advance to the top of the hill, while he and a few of his men 
dragged up a six pounder, amid a most galling fire from more 
than ten times their numbers. Arrived at the top they form- 
ed, and poured in upon their assailants a fire of grape, and 
at length made a charge and repelled them. Lieutenant 
Armstrong, Captains Hamilton, Bradford, and M'Govock, fell 
in this rencontre. By this time a considerable number had 
re-crossed the creek and joined the chase ; Captain Gordon 
of the spies, rushed from the front and partially succeeded in 
turning the enemy's left flank. The Creeks now fled in the 
greatest consternation, throwing off their packs, and every 
thing that retarded their flight, and were pursued for more 
than two miles. Twenty-six of their warriors were left dead 
on the field. General Jackson's loss, in the several engage- 
ments of the 22d and 24th, was twenty-four killed, and seven- 
ty wounded. Judge Cocke, one of General Jackson's 
volunteers, entered the service at the age of sixty-five, was 
foremost in this engagement, continued the pursuit with 
youthful ardour, and saved the life of one of his fellow-sol- 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 211 

diers by slaying his antagonist. In all the rencontres, one 
hundred and eighty-nine of the Creek warriors were found 
slain. A very seasonable diversion had been made in favour 
of the operations of General Floyd on the eastern boundary 
of the enemy. After the battle of the 24th, General Jackson 
was enabled to return to fort Strother without further moles- 
tation. 

The Creeks encouraged by what they considered a victory 
over General Jackson's forces in the battles of the 22d and 
24th of January, continued to concentrate their forces, and 
fortify themselves at the Great Bend of the Tallapoosa. 
This river forms the north-eastern branch of the Alabama. 
Several miles above its junction with the Coosa, is a curve in 
the river in the form of a horse-shoe, called by the whites 
the Great Bend, and by the Indians Emuc'sau. The penin- 
sula formed by the bend, contains about one hundred acres, 
and the isthmus leading to it, is about forty rods across ; at the 
bottom of the peninsula is the village of Tohopisca, con- 
taining about two hundred houses. On this peninsula, the 
Indians from the adjoining districts had concentrated tlieir 
forces, to the amount of one thousand warriors, with ample 
stores of provisions and ammunition, and had fortified them- 
selves with great skill; having thrown up a breastwork, con- 
sisting of eight tier of logs, with double port-holes across the 
isthmus, so that an assailing enemy might be opposed by a 
double and cross fire by the garrison, who could lie in perfect 
safely behind their works. 

Battle at the Great Bend. On the i6th of March, General 
Jackson, having received considerable reinforcements of vol- 
unteers from Tennessee, and friendly Indians, left fort Stro- 
ther with his whole disposable force, amounting to about 
three thousand of every description, on an expedition against 
this assemblage of Indians. He proceeded down the Coosa 
sixty miles to the mouth of Cedar creek, where he established 
a post called fort Williams, and proceeded on the 24th across 
the ridge of land dividing the waters of the Coosa from the 



512 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10. 

Tallapoosa: and arrived at the Great bend on the morning 
of the 27th, having the three preceding days opened a pas- 
sage through the wilderness of fifty-two miles. On the 26th 
he passed the battle-ground of the 22d of January, and left 
it three miles in his rear. General Coffee was detached with 
seven hundred cavalry, and mounted gunmen, and six hun- 
dred friendly Indians, to cross the river below the bend, 
secure the opposite banks, and prevent escape. Having 
crossed at the Little Island ford, three miles below the bend, 
his Indians were ordered silently to approach and line the 
bank of the river; while the mounted men occupied the 
adjoining heights, to guard against reinforcements, which 
might be expected from the Oakfusky towns, eight miles 
below. Lieutenant Bean at the same time was ordered to 
occupy Litde Island, at the fording-place, to secure any that 
might attempt to escape in that direction. In the mean time, 
General Jackson, with the artillery and infantry, moved on in 
slow and regular order to the isthmus, and planted his guns 
on an eminence one hundred and fifty yards in front of the 
breastwork. On perceiving that General Coffee had com- 
pleted his arrangements below, he opened a fire upon the 
fortification, but found he could make no other impression 
with his artillery than boring shot-holes through the logs. 
General Coftee's Indians on the bank, hearing the roaring 
of the cannon in front, and observing considerable confusion 
on the peninsula, supposing the battle to be nearly vyon, 
crossed over and set fire to the village, and attacked the 
Creeks in the rear. At this moment General Jackson ordered 
an assault upon the works in front. The regular troops, led 
by Colonel Williams, accompanied by a part of the militia of 
General Dougherty's brigade, led on by Colonel Russell, pre- 
sently got possession of a part of the works amid a tremen- 
dous fire from behind them. The advance guard was led by 
Colonel Sisler, and the left extremity of the line by Captain 
Gordon of the spies, and Captain M'Marry of General John- 
son's brigade of West Tennessee militia. The batde for a 



1813u HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 013 

short time was obstinate, and fought musket to musket through 
the port-holes ; when the assailants succeeded in getting pos- 
session of the opposite side of the works, and the contest 
ended. The Creeks were entirely routed, and the whole 
margin of the river strewed with the slain. The troops under 
General Jackson, and General Coffee's Indians, who had 
crossed over into the peninsula, continued the work of de- 
struction as long as there was a Creek to be found. General 
Coffee, on seeing his Indians crossing over, had ordered their 
places to be supplied on the bank by his riflemen ; and every 
Indian that attempted to escape by swimming the river, or 
crossing the Little Island below, was met and slain by Gen- 
eral Coffee's troops. The battle, as long as any appearance 
of resistance remained, lasted five hours ; the slaughter con- 
tinued until dark, and was renewed the next morning, when 
sixteen more of the unfortunate savages were hunted out of 
their hiding-places and slain. Five hundred and fifty-seven 
warriors were found dead on the peninsula ; among whom was 
their famous prophet Manahell, and two others, the principal 
instigators of the war; two hundred and fifty more were esti- 
mated to have been killed in crossing the river, and at other 
p)laces, which were not found. General Jackson's loss was 
twenty-six white men, and twenty-three Indians, killed ; 
and one hundred and seven white men, and forty-seven 
Indians, wounded. 

Submission of the Creeks. This decisive victorjr put an end 
to the Creek war. In the short period of five months from 
the first of November to the first of April, two thousand of 
their warriors, among whom were their principal prophets 
and kings, had been slain, most of their towns and villages 
burned, and the strong places in their territory occupied by 
the United States troops. After this battle, the miserable 
remnant of the hostile tribes submitted. Witherford, the 
principal surviving chief and prophet, who led the Indians at 
fort Mimms, accompanied his surrender with this address to 
General Jackson. 



214 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 10, 

" I fought at fort Mimms — I fought the Georgia army — I 
did you all the injury I could. — Had I been supported as 1 
was promised, I would have done you more. But my war- 
riors are all killed. I can fight no longer. I look back with 
sorrow that I have brought destruction upon my nation. I 
am now in your power. Do with me as you please. I am a 
soldier." 

A war with savages is necessarily attended with many 
circumstances distressing to the feelings of humanity. The 
Indian, having no means of supporting or confining his pris- 
oner, knows no other mode of ridding himself of the burden- 
but by plunging the tomahawk into his head ; and the Ameri- 
cans can no otherwise effectually prevent the savages from 
repeating their massacres, than by laying waste their villages, 
destroying their provisions, and compelling the surviving 
warriors to flee with their women and children into the wilder- 
ness beyond the reach of the whites. 

The brilliant success with which this war was conducted 
and terminated, cast a mantle over its tragic scenes. The 
slaughter of unresisting warriors, and the burning of defence- 
less villages, marked much of its progress. To the enemy 
indeed no apology is necessary ; the massacre at fort Mimms, 
and the subsequent ravages of the surrounding country, would 
justify a war of extermination; and the unhappy victims can 
alone condemn the British and Spanish authorities by whose 
intrigues they were induced to engage in this fatal contest. 
The plea of necessity goes far towards justifying the mode 
in which this war was conducted in the view of all. The 
savage warrior, who is suffered to escape, Uves only to renew 
his ravages. The bold and decisive measures of General 
Jackson, in the conduct of this war, have probably prevented 
its ever being renewed by the same tribes, and struck a gen- 
eral dread among the surrounding nations. Though these 
considerations may justify the general mode in which the war 
.vas conducted, yet it is impossible to find a sufficient apology 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 115 

for hunting out and butchering sixteen warrior*, on the day 
after the last battle. 

Soon after this victory, the Georgia forces, under General 
Floyd, formed a junction with those of Tennessee, and on 
the 20th of April, General Pinckney arrived at Fort Jack- 
son, where the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers uniting, form 
the Alabama, and assumed the command of all the forces in 
the Mississippi territory. New detachments of militia were 
ordered in to garrison the fortresses established in the Creek 
nation, and General Jackson and the Tennessee volunteers 
returned to Fayetteville and were discharged. 

General Jackson and Colonel Hawkins were soon after- 
wards appointed commissioners to settle a peace with the 
(.'reeks ; and on the 10th of August concluded a treaty, dic- 
tated altogether by the United States commissioners. The 
Creeks yielded up a valuable portion of their territory to 
defray the expenses of the war; they conceded the privileges 
of opening roads through their country, and navigating their 
riveys, and stipulated to hold no further intercourse with the 
British or Spanish posts, and to deliver up all the property or 
persons of the whites, or friendly Indians in their possession. 
On the part of the United States, the companies agreed to 
guarantee their remaining territory, to restore all their pris- 
oners, and in consideration of their destitute situation, to fur- 
nish them gratuitously with the necessaries of life until they 
could provide for themselves. 

The Creek war led to a rapid settlement of their country 
by the whites. The introduction of a large military force 
from Georgia and Tennessee, opened the country to the view 
of those armies, and made them acquainted with the fine lands 
on their rivers. By the treaty of the 10th of August, 1814, a 
large portion of their country was obtained, and by a subse- 
quent treaty, another large tract of the Mississippi territory 
was exchanged by them for lands west of the Mississippi, on 
the Arkansaw. At the commencement of the Creek war in 
1813, the number of white inhabitants in the whole territory 



016 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. iO. 

did not exceed twenty thousand. Within seven years from 
that period, they increased tenfold ; and the same territory 
then formed two respectable states, and contained a white 
population of two hundred thousand.* 



* Census of reSO. 



CHAPTER XI. 

^ege of Port Meigs.— Arrival of General Clay to its Relief. — Defeat 
aod Capture of Colonel Dudley's Detachment. — Siege raised. — Gren- 
eral Harrison's Measures for the Defence of the Lake Erie Frontier- 
— ^Gallant Defence of Fort Stephenson. — Address of the Ladies of 
Chilicothe to Major Crogan. — The Reply. — Preparations for building 
a Navy on Lake Erie. — Naval Depot at the Town of Erie. — Commo- 
dore Perry appointed to the Command ; superintends the building a 
Fleet; anchors at Put-in-Bay. — Naval Battle. — Complete Victory 
•of the Americans. Proctor determines to abandon Maiden. — Re- 
monstrance of the Indians. — Speech of Tecumseh. — Harrison pre- 
pares to invade Canada ; re-occupies Detroit ; pursues Proctor up 
the Thames. — Battle of the Moravian Towns. — Defeat and Capture 
of Proctor's Army. — Capture of his Baggage and Papers. — Death of 
Tecumseh. — Dissolution of the Indian Confederacy. — Effects of the 
Victory. 

Siege of Fort Meigs. After the defeat and capture of Gene- 
ral Winchester and his army at the river Raisin, General Harri- 
son established his advanced post at the foot of the Miami ra- 
pids, enclosing about eight acres with strong pickets, and es- 
tablishing batteries at the most commanding points. This po- 
sition was selected as being convenient for keeping open a 
communication, and receiving reinforcements and supplies 
from Kentucky, and the settled parts of the state of Ohio ; 
and at the same time affording the best station for protecting 
the borders of lake Erie, re-capturing Detroit, and carrying 
the war into the British territories : it was denominated fort 
Meigs, in hononr of the zeal and talents of the governor of 
Ohio. The Miami of the lake is formed by the St. Marys, 
which comes from the south, and the St. Josephs, which 
rises in the Indiana territory. These rivers unite at fort Wayne, 
near the west Une of the state of Ohio : from this point the 
river assumes the name of Miami, and runs a north-easterly 

28 



218 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chat. II. 

direction, about fifty miles to fort Winchester, formerly fort. 
Defiance, where it receives the waters of the Auglaize from 
the south. Thence it continues the same course forty miles 
further to the rapids, and after passing a short distance below 
fort Meigs on the left, and the ruins of a small village on the 
right, and embracing a large island, falls into the Miami bay, 
opposite the site of an old British fort, eighteen miles from 
lake Erie. The rapids terminate at fort Meigs, three miles 
above the head of the bay. On the breaking up of the ice 
in lake Erie, General Proctor with all his disposable force, 
consisting of regulars and Canadian militia from Maiden, and 
a large body of Indians under their celebrated chief Tecum- 
seh, amounting in the whole to two thousand men, laid seige 
to fort Meigs. To encourage the Indians, he had promised 
them an easy conquest ; and assured them that General Har- 
rison should be delivered up to Tecumseh. On the 26th of 
April, the British columns appeared on the opposite bank of 
the river, and established their princijjal batteries on a com- 
manding eminence opposite the fort. On the 27th, the Indians 
crossed the river, and established themselves in the rear of 
the American lines. The garrison, not having completed 
their wells, had no water except what they obtained from the 
river, under a constant firing of the enemy. On the first, 
second, and third of May, their batteries kept up an incessant 
shower of balls and shells upon the fort. On the night of 
the third, the British erected a gun and mortar battery on the 
left bank of the river, within two hundred and fifty yards of 
the American lines. The Indians climbed the trees in the 
neighbourhood of the fort, and poured in a gallant fire upon 
the garrison. In this situation General Harrison received a 
summons from Proctor for a surrender of the garrison, greatly 
magnifying his means of annoyance ; this was answered by a 
prompt refusal, assuring the British general that if he obtained 
possession of the fort, it would not be by capitulation. Ap- 
prehensive of such an attack, General Harrison had made the 
governors of Kentucky and Ohio minutely acquainted with 



1«13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 219 

his situation, and stated to them the necessity of roinforce- 
ments for the relief of fort Meigs. His requisitions had been 
zealously anticipated ; and General Clay was at this moment 
descending the Miami with twelve hundred Kentuckians for 
his relief. 

Arrival of Succours. At twelve o'clock in the night of the 
fourth, an officer arrived from General Clay, with the wel- 
come intelligence of his approach, stating that he was just 
above the rapids, and could reach him in two hours, and 
requesting his orders. Harrison determined on a general 
sally, and directed Clay to land eight hundred men on the 
right bank, take possession of the British batteries, spike 
their cannon, immediately return to tlicir boats, and cross 
over to the American fort. The remainder of Clay's force 
were ordered to land on tlic left bank, and fight their way to 
the fort, while sorties v.'er3 o be m?de from the garrison in 
aid of these operations. Captain liamikon was directed to 
proceed up the river in a periaugcr, land a subaltern on the 
left bank, who should be a pilot to conduct General Clay to 
the fort; and then crof:^ over and station his periauger at the 
place designated for the other division to land. General 
Clay, having received these orders, descended the river in 
order of battle in solid columns, each officer taking position 
according to his rank. Colonel Dudley, being the eldest in 
command, led the van, and wdiH ordered to take the men in 
the twelve front boats, and execute Genercl Karrison's orders 
on the right bank. He effijcted his landing at the place 
designated, without difficulty. General Clay kept close 
along the left bank until he came opposite the place of Colo- 
nel Dudley's landing, but not finding the subaltern there, he 
attempted to cross over and join Colonel Dudley ; this was 
prevented by the violence of the current on the rapids; and 
he again attempted to land on the left bank, and effected it 
with only fifty men amid a brisk fire from the enemy on shore, 
and made his way to the fort, receiving their fire until within 
the protection of its guns. The other boats under the cona- 



220 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CiiAy. 1?- 

mand of Colonel Boswell, were driven further down the cur- 
rent, and landed on the right to join Colonel Dudley. Here 
they were ordered to re-embaric, land on the left bank, and 
proceed to the fort. In the mean time two sorties were made 
from the garrison, one on the left, in aid of Colonel Boswell^ 
by which the Canadian militia and Indians were defeated, and 
he enabled to reach the fort in safety, and one on the right 
against the British batteries, which was also successful. 

Defeat of Colonel Dudley. Colonel Dudley, with his de- 
tachment of eight hundred Kentucky militia, completely suc- 
ceeded in driving the British from their batteries, and spiking 
the cannon. Having accomplished this object, his orders 
were peremplovy to return immadiately to his boats, and 
cross over to the fort ; but the blind confidence which gen- 
erally attends mililia wh^n successful, proved their ruin. 
Although repeatedly ordered by Colonel Dudley, and warned 
of their danger, and called upon from the fort to leave the 
ground ; and although there v««is abundant time for that pur- 
pose, before '.he British reinforcements arrived ; yet they 
commenced a pursuit of the Indians, and suffered themselves 
to be drawn inio an ambuscade by some feint skirmishing, 
while the British troops and large bodies of Indians were 
brought up, and intercepted their return to the river. Elated 
with their first success, they considered the victory as already 
gained, and pursued the enemy nearly two miles into the 
woods and swamps, where they were suddenly caught in a 
defile, and surrounded by double their numbers. Finding 
themselves in this situation, consternation prevailed ; their line 
became broken and disordered, and huddled together in un- 
resisting crowds, they were obliged to surrender to the mercy 
of the savages. Fortunately for these unhappy victims of 
their own rashness. General Tecumseh commanded at this 
ambuscade, and had imbibed, since his appointment, more 
humane feelings than his brother Proctor. After the surren- 
der, and all resistance had ceased, the Indians, finding five 
kundred prisoners at their mercy, began the work of massacre 



1313. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 221 

with the most savage delight. Tecumseh sternly forbade it, 
and buried his tomahawk in the head of one of his chiefs who 
refused obedience. This order accompanied with this deci- 
sive manner of enforcing it, put an end to the massacre. Of 
eight hundred men, only one hundred and fifty escaped. The 
residue were slain, or made prisoners. Colonel Dudley was 
severely wounded in the action, and afterwards tomahawked 
and scalped. 

Siege raised. Proctor, seeing no prospect of taking the fort, 
and finding his Indians fast leaving him, raised the siege on 
the 9th of May, and returned with precipitation to Maiden. 
Tecumseh and a considerable portion of the Indians remained 
in service ; but large numbers left it in disgust, and were 
ready to join the Americans. On the left bank, in the several 
sorties of the 5th of May, and during the seige, the American 
loss was eighty-one killed, and one hundred and eighty-nine 
wounded. General Harrison having repaired the fort, and 
committed its defence to General Clay, repaired to Frank- 
linton to organize the new levies, and systematize a plan of 
defence for the Erie frontier. At lower Sandusky he met 
Governor Meigs at the head of a large body of Ohio volun- 
teers, pressing on to his relief, and gave him the pleasing 
intelligence, that the siege was raised. The volunteers were 
there discharged with the warmest acknowledgments of the 
governor and general, for their promptness and zeal in march- 
ing to the relief of fort Meigs. 

Defence of the Erie Frontier. At this period the situa- 
tion of the settlements bordering on lake Erie, was peculiarly 
alarming; the British and Indians were in superior force at 
the head of the lake, and having the perfect command of the 
navigation, could strike at any point within twenty miles of 
the shore, in forty-eight hours, perform their work of destruc- 
tion, and secure themselves on board their shipping before 
any succours could arrive. Tecumseh and Proctor seem to 
have been selected with peculiar judgment for such a work. 
Probably two more fit instruments could not have been found 



222 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. 10. 

in the whole British service. Not a dwelling or a village 
"within twenty miles of the lake shore could be considered for 
a single night as safe form conflagration. The difficult and 
important task of defending this frontier, and retrieving the 
losses occasioned by the cowardice of General Hull, and the 
precipitancy of General Winchester, put to the severest test 
the bravery, skill, and judgment of General Harrison ; his 
first measure was to ascertain with certainty what was to be 
depended on from the neighbouring Indians. For this pur- 
pose he held a council at Franklinton on the 21st of June, 
with fifty of the chiefs of the Delaware, Shawanee, Wyandot, 
and Seneca tribes; and stated to them that the crisis had 
now arrived in which they must take a stand either for or 
against the United States. As guarantees of their fidelity, 
they must either remove with their families into the settle- 
ments of the whites, or their warriors must accompany him to 
the field. The chiefs and warriors unanimously agreed to 
the latter. The general then informed them, that all who 
accompanied him must conform to his mode of warfare, and 
never injure or destroy old men, women, children, or prison- 
ers. He further stated to them, that, as General Proctor 
had stipulated to deliver him to Tecumsch, had he succeeded 
in taking fort Meigs, he would now engage to deliver Gen- 
eral Proctor into their hands, on condition that they would do 
him no other harm than to dress him in squaw's clothes, ob- 
serving that none but cowards and squaws would kill a pris- 
oner. 

The general's next measure was to establish posts near 
the lake shore at the most exposed points, and within sup- 
porting distances of each other; with this view fort Stephen- 
son was established at lower Sandusky, on the river, within 
eighteen miles of its entrance into the bay, and forty from fort 
Meigs. The defence of it was intrusted to Major George 
Crogan, one of the Kentucky volunteers, who had accom- 
panied General Clay as his aid, and was now detached from 
fori Meigs, with one hundred and fifty of his comrades, on 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 223 

this service. General Harrison, afterwards finding he could 
spare no greater force for the defence of this place, and 
viewing it as untenable, ordered it to be demolished, and the 
garrison to retire to upper Sandusky. On receiving this 
order, the young hero immediately repaired to head-quarters, 
and gave the General such evidence of his ability to sustain 
an attack as induced him to rescind the order. Soon after 
his return to the fort, the valour of Major Crogan and his 
corps was put to the severest test. 

Assault on Fort Stephenson. On the 1st of August, Gen- 
eral Proctor with twelve hundred men, appeared on the river 
approaching the fort. The brave little band in the garrison 
saw the river covered with boats, fraught with men, arms, and 
artillery, as far as the eye could reach, slowly advancing in 
order of battle, to the attack and as the British supposed, cer- 
tain destruction, of the fort. Just out of reach of the artillery 
of the fort, which consisted only of one six pounder, the Gen- 
eral landed his troops, took possession of all the avenues of 
escape, planted his batteries in commanding positions, and 
summoned the garrison to surrender, greatly magnifying his 
forces, and stating as usual, that if the fort was taken by 
storm it would not be in his power to prevent a massacre. 
The reply was a determined refusal, and this brave corps of 
heroic youth, their commander being only twenty-one, and 
his associates of about the same age, in the face of eight times 
their number, prepared for death or victory. When the flag 
returned, it was dark, and a heavy and incessant firing com- 
menced and continued through the night, both from the gun- 
boats in the river, and the batteries on shore. The garrison 
was protected by pickets eighteen feet high, with bayonets 
nailed at the top, and pointing horizontally, and at the foot of 
the pickets by a ditch six feet in width and depth. The 
firing during the night had but litde effect; early in the morn- 
ing another battery was opened within two hundred and fifty 
yards of the pickets, and the fire directed to the north-west 
angle, which appeared to be the weakest point. This Major 



224 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAJl. Chap. U. 

Cpogan secured by hanging over the pickets bags of sand and 
flour, so that little injury was sustained from the balls. Hav- 
ing continued the fire from the batteries until four in the after- 
noon, General Proctor, finding that no material effect was pro- 
duced, ordered an assault upon the northwest angle. A 
column of five hundred men advanced amid such a firing and 
cloud of smoke, that they were not discovered until within 
about twenty paces of the works. At the same time two 
feints were made on the front of Captain Hunter's lines. The 
assailants were thrown into some confusion by a well directed 
fire from the garrison, but soon rallied, and rapidly advancing, 
began to leap the ditch ; at this moment a fire of grape 
opened from their six pounder, which had been concealed, 
and was now so placed as to rake the ditch in the direction 
of the assailants; this, with an incessant fire of musketry, 
broke their ranks, and induced a precipitate retreat to the 
woods. During the whole time of the assault, which lasted 
thirty minutes, a constant and heavy fire was kept up from 
the batteries. 

Repulse. Colonel Short, who commanded the regulars, 
composing the forlorn hope, having formed his line parallel 
with the works, ordered his men to leap the ditch, cut down 
the pickets, and give the Americans no quarters ; at that 
moment he received a mortal wound in the body, fell into the 
ditch, hoisted a Hag on the end of his sword, and begged for 
that mercy which he had a moment before ordered to be 
denied to his enemy. Fifty-two dead, dying, and wounded 
were left in the ditch ; the groans of the wounded, and their 
constant cries for water, excited the compassion of the gar- 
rison to such a degree, that they were induced to supply them, 
though at the risk of their lives, as a constant firing was kept 
up from the batteries during the night. At three in the morn- 
ing, the brave youth in the garrison had the satisfaction to see 
the assailing foe quit the ground, re-embark, and proceed 
down the river, leaving behind them seventy stands of arms, 
several braces of pistols, and a boat loaded with clothing and 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. £26 

military stores. Their loss was estimated at one hundred and 
fitly. One hcutenant colonel, one lieutenant, and fifty rank 
and file, were found dead and wounded in front of the works. 
The remainder of the wounded were taken off by the Indians 
during the night. The American loss was one killed, and 
seven wounded. This defeat was the more humiliating to 
General Proctor, as it was accomplished by a small band of 
raw soldiers, commanded by an inexperienced youth. To the 
bordrr inhabitants it was highly important, as it secured them 
irom further Indian massacre. Proctor's allies became dis- 
affected, and left him in great numbers. The state of Ohio, 
within whose limits this achievement was accomplished, more 
immediately experienced its beneficial consequences. The 
ladies of Chilicothe, immediately on hearing the news, pre- 
sented their fivourite hero with an elegant sword accompanied 
with the following card. 

•'Chilicothe, August 13th, 1813. 
" Sir 

" In consequence of the gallant defence, which, under the 
influence of Divine Providence, was eflected by you and the 
tioops under your command, of fort Stevenson, on Lower 
Sandusky, on the second instant, the undersigned, ladies of 
Chilicothe, impressed with a high sense of your merits as a 
soldier and a gentleman, and with great confidence in your 
patriotism and valour, present you this sword. 
" Major George Crogan." 

To which they received the following reply: 

"Lower Sandusky, August 25th, 1813. 
" Ladies of Chilicothe, 

" I have received the sword you was pleased to 
present me as a testimonial of your approbation of my con- 
duct on the second instant. A mark of distinction so flatter- 
ing and so unexpected, has excited feelings which I can- 
not express ; yet while I return you thanks for the unmrrife.J 

30 



22G HISTORY OK THE LATE WAR. Chap. U 

gift you have thus bestowed, I feel weM aware the good for- 
Hiue, bought by the activity of the brave officers and soldiers 
under my command, has raised in yoa expectations from my 
future efforts, which must, I fear, sooner or later be disap- 
pointed. Still I pledge myself that my exertions shall be 
such as never to cause you in the least to regret the honour? 
you have been pleased to confer on your youthful soldier. 

" GEORGE CROGAN.'* 

Such rewards of valour, so handsomely bestowed, excited 
in the breasts of the youthful officers, the nursery of the army, 
an ardour and emulation not to be extinguished or overcome. 

Tho enemy appeared several times in the course of the 
summer before fort Meigs, and threatened another seige, but 
finding it well secured, made no attempt. After their defeat 
at Sandusky, they made no further hostile movements of any 
magnitude, until the subsequent events on lake Erie wholly 
changed the complexion of affairs on tlys frontier. 

Nhvy on Lake Erie. The original plan o{ operations in re- 
lation to the western section of the Canadas was, to take the 
countries bordering upon the upper lakes, which wovrld have 
superseded the necessity of a naval force upon those waters. 
The small British naval power, being" deprived of harbours, \t 
was expected would of necessity have fallen into the hands 
of the Americans. The unexpected surrender of General 
Hull and his army wholly frustrated this measure, and ren- 
dered a superior force on lake Erie necessary for the defence 
of the American territory bordering on the lake, as well as 
for offensive operations in Canada. After the surrender of 
Detroit, government immediately turned their attention to this 
object. Oliver H. Perry, a brave and accomplished young; 
officer, v/ho had the command of a flotilla of gun-boats for 
ihe defence of New-York, was designated to the command on 
lake Erie. At this time, the United States possessed no naval 
force on the lake ; the only vessels belonging to the govern- 
ment were captured at Detroit, The southern, or American 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 227 

lake shore, is principally a sand beach, formed by the sedi- 
ment of the lake driven upon the shore i^y the northerly 
winds. There are but few harbours, and those encumbered 
with bars at their entrance. At Presque Isle, within the 
bounds of Pennsylvania, and ninety miles west of Buffalo, 
a peninsula extending a considerable distance into the lake 
encircles a harbour, on the borders of which is built the vil- 
lage of Erie. At this place Commodore Perry was directed 
to repair, and superintend a naval establishment, the object 
of which was to create a superior force on the lake. The 
difficulties of building a navy in the wilderness can only be 
conceived by those who have exj^ericnccd them. There was 
nothing at this spot out of which it could be built, but the 
timber of the forest. Ship-builders, sailors, naval stores, 
guns^ and ammunition, were to be transported by land over 
bad roads a distance of four hundred miles, either from Albany 
by the way of Buffalo, or from Philadelphia by the way of 
Pittsburgh. Under all these embarrassments, by the first of 
August, 1813, Commodore Perry had provided a flotilla, 
consisting of the ships Lawrence and Niagara of twen- 
ty guns each, and seven smaller vessels, to wit, one of 
four guns, one of three, two of two, and three of one ; in 
the whole fifty-four guns. While the ships were building, the 
enemy frequently appeared off the harbour and threatened 
their destruction, but the shallowness of the water on the bar, 
thett being but five feet, prevented their approach. The same 
cause, which ensured the safety of the ships while building, 
seemed to prevent their being of any service. The two 
Jarjiest drew several feet more water than there was on the 
bar. The inventive genius of Commodore Perry, however, 
soon surmounted this difficulty ; he placed large scows on each 
side of the two largest ships, filled them so as to sink to the 
water edge, then attached them to the ships by strong pieces 
of timber, and pumped out the water. The scows then 
buoyed up the ships so as to pass the bar in safety. This 
operation was performed on both the large ships, in the pres- 
ence of a superior enemy. Having goft^en his fleet in i-eadi- 



228 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. (JLhap. li 

ncss, Commodore Perry proceeded to ihc head of the lake and 
anchored in Put-iii-Bay, opposite to, and distant thirty miles 
from Maiden, where the British fleet lay under the guns of the 
I'ort. He lay at anchor here several days, watching the mo- 
tions of the enemy, determined to give him battle the first fc- 
vourable opportunity. On the 10th of September at sunrise, the 
British fleet, consisting of one ship of nineteen guns, one of 
seventeen, one of thirteen, and one of ten, one of three, and 
one of one, amounting to sixty-four, and exceeding the Ameri- 
cans by ten guns, under the command of Commodore Barclay 
ajjpeared off Put-in-Bay, distant about ten miles. Commodore 
Perry immediately got under weigh with a light breeze at 
sout-hwest. At 10 o'clock, the wind hauled to the south-east 
which brought the American squadron to the windward, and 
gave them the weathergage. Commodore Perry, on board 
the Lawrence, then hoisted his union jack, having for a motto 
the dying words of Captain Lawrence, " DonU give up the 
ship,'''' which was received with repeated cheers by the crew. 
Naval Battle. He then formed the line of battle, and bore 
up for the enemy, who at the same time hauled his courses 
and prepared for action. The lightness of the wind, occa- 
sioned the hostile squadrons to approach each other but slow- 
ly, and prolonged for two hours, the solemn interval of sus- 
pense and anxiety which precedes a battle. The order and 
I'egularity of naval discipline heightened the dreadful quiet of 
the moment. No noise, no bustle, prevailed to distract the 
mind, except at intervals, the shrill pipings of the boatswain's 
whistle, or a murmuring whisper among the men, who stood 
in groups around their guns, with lighted matches, narrowly 
watching the movements of the foe, and sometimes stealing 
a glance at the countenances of their commanders. In this 
manner, the hostile fleets gradually neared each other in awful 
silenoe. At fifteen minutes after eleven, a bugle was sound- 
ed on board the cnemy''s head-most ship, Detroit, loud cheers 
burst from all their crews, and a tremendous fire opened upon 
(he Lawrence, fi-om the British long guns, which, from the 



1813. HISTORY OF TliE LATE WAR. 229 

shortness of the Lawrence's, she was obhged to sustain for 
forty minutes without being able to return a shot. 

Commodore Perry, without waiting for the other ships, kept 
on his course in such gallant and determined style, that the 
enemy supposed he meant immediately to board. At five 
minutes before twelve, having gained a nearer position, the 
Lawrence opened her fire, but the long guns of the British 
still gave them greatly the advantage, and the Lawrence vras 
exceedingly cut up without being able to do but very little 
damage in return. Their shot pierced her side in all direc- 
tions, killing the men in the birth-deck and steerage, where 
they had been carried to be dressed. One shot had nearly 
produced a fatal explosion ; passing through the light room, 
it knocked thesnuft'of the candle into tte magazine, fortunately 
the gunner saw it, and had the presence of mind immediately 
to extinguish it. It appeared to be the enemy's plan at all 
events to destroy the commodore's ship ; their heaviest fire 
was directed against the Lawrence, and blazed incessantly 
from all their largest vessels. Commodore Perry, finding the 
hazard of his situation, made all sail and directed the other 
vessels to follow for the purpose of closing with the enemy. 
The tremendous fire, however, to which he was exposed, soon 
cut away every brace and bowline of the Lawrence, and she 
became unmanageable. The other vessels were unable to 
get up ; and in this disastrous situation she sustained the main 
force of the enemy's fire for upwards of two hours, within 
cknnister distance, though a considerable part of the time not 
m6re than two or three of her guns could be brought to bear 
on her antagonist. The utmost order and regularity prevailed 
during this scene of horror ; as fast as the men at the guns 
were wounded, they were carried below, and others stepped 
into their places ; the dead remained where they fell until 
after the action ; at this juncture the enemy believed the 
battle to be won. The Lawrence w^as reduced to a mere 
wreck, her deck was streaming with blood, and covered with 
the mangled limbs and bodies of the slain ; nearly the whole 



230 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. H. 

of her crew were either killed or wounded ; her guns were 
dismounted, and the commodore and his officers helped to 
work the last that was capable of service. At two, Captain 
Elliott was enabled by the aid of a fresh breeze to bring his 
ship into close action in gallant style : and the commodore im- 
mediately determined to shift his flag on board that ship ; and 
giving his own in charge to Lieutenant Yarnell, he hauled 
down his union jack and taking it under his arm, ordered a 
boat to put him on board the Niagara. Broadsides were lev- 
elled at his boat, and a shower of musketry from three of the 
enemy's ships. He arrived safe and hoisted his union jack, 
with the animating motto, on board the Niagara. Captain 
Elliott by direction of the commodore, immediately put off" in a 
boat to bring up the schooners which had been kept back by 
the lightness of the wind. At this moment the flag of the Law- 
rence was hauled down ; she had sustained the principal force 
of the enemy's fire for tw© hours, and was rendered incapa- 
pable of defence. Any further show of resistance would 
have been a useless sacrifice of the relics of her brave and 
mangled crew. The enemy were at the same time so crippled, 
that they were unable to take possession of her, and circum- 
stances soon enabled her crew again to hoist her flag. Com- 
modore Perry now gave the signal to all the vessels for close 
action. The small vessels, under the direction of Captain 
Elliott, got out their sweeps, and made all sail. Finding the 
Niagara but little injured, the commander determined upon 
the bold and desperate expedient of breaking the enemy's 
line ; he accordingly bore up and passed the head of the two 
ships and brig, giving them a raking fire, from his starboard 
guns, and also a raking fire upon a large schooner and sloop, 
from his larboard (juarter, at half pistol shot. Having gotten 
the whole squadron into action, he luffed up and laid his ship 
alongside of the British commodore. The small vessels hav- 
ing now got up within good grape and cannister distance on 
the other quarter, enclosed their enemy between them and 
the Niagara, and in this position kept up a most destructive 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 231 

fire on both quarters of the British, until every ship struck 
her colours. 

Victory. The engagement lasted about three hours, and 
never was victory more decisive and complete. More pris- 
oners were taken than there were men on board the American 
squadron at the close of the action. The principal loss in 
killed and wounded was on board the Lawrence, before the 
other vessels were brought into action. Of her crew twenty- 
two were killed, and sixty wounded. When her flag Wf?s 
struck, but twenty men remained on deck fit for duty. The 
loss on board of all the other vessels was only five killed, and 
thirty-six wounded.* The British loss must have been much 
more considerable. Commodore Barclay was dangerously 
wounded. He had lost one arm in the battle of Trafalgar. 
The other was now rendered useless, by the loss of a part of 
his shoulder-blade ', he received also a severe wound in the 
hip. 

Commodore Perry, in his official despatch, speaks in the 
highest terms of respect and commiseration for his wounded 
antagonist, and asks leave to grant him an immediate parole. 
Of Captain Elliott, his second in command, he says, " That he 
is already so well known to the government, that it would be 
almost superfluous to speak. In this action he evinced his 
characteristic bravery and judgment, and since the close of 
it has given me the most able and essential assistance." Not- 
withstanding this high encomium of his commander, under 
whose eye he acted during the whole engagement, this brave 
officer has been accused of cowardice and disobedience of 
orders, in not bringing his ship sooner into action. The bold 
and desperate measure of pressing forward into action Avith 
the Lawrence alone, and exposing her tathe whole fire of the 
enemy's fleet for two hours, before the other ships could be 
got up, has been censured as rash, and not warranted by the 
rules of naval war; but there are seasons when the com- 
mander must rely more on the daring promptness of his 



• Commodore Perry's letter to the Secretary of War. 



232 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CuAi. It. 

measures, than on nice calculations of comparative strength. 
Neither Bonaparte nor Nelson ever stopped to measure accu- 
rately the strength of the respective combatants. The result, 
is the acknowledged and generally the best criterion of merit : 
and it should not detract from the eclat of the successful 
commander that his measures were bold and decisive. 

Two days after the battle, two Indian chiefs who had been 
selected for their skill as marksmen, and stationed in the tops 
of the Detroit, for the purpose of picking otf the American 
officers, were found snugly stowed away in the hold of the 
Detroit. These savages, who had been accustomed to ships 
of no greater magnitude than what they could sling on their 
backs, when the action became warm, were so panic-struck 
at the terrors of the scene, and the strange perils that sur- 
rounded them, that, looking at each other with amazement, 
they vociferated their significant quonh, and precipitately 
descended to the hold. In their British uniforms hanging in 
bags upon their famished bodies, they were brought before 
Commodore Perry, fed, and discharged ; no further parole 
being necessary, to prevent their afterwards engaging in the 
contest. The slain of the crews of both squadrons were 
committed to the lake immediately after the action. The next 
day, the funeral obsequies of the American and British officers 
who had fallen, were performed at an opening on the margin 
of the bay, in an appropriate and affecting manner. The 
crews of both fleets united in the ceremony. The stillness of 
the weather — the {)rocession of boats — the music — the slow 
and regular motion of the oars, striking in exact time with the 
notes of the solemn dirge — the mournful waving of the flags — 
the sound of the minute-guns from all the ships — the wild and 
solitary aspect of the place, gave to these funeral rites a most 
impressive influence, and formed an affecting contrast with 
the terrible conflict of the preceding day. Then the people 
of the two squadrons were engaged in the deadly strife of 
arms : now they were associated as brothers, to pay the last 
tribute of respect to the slain of both nations. Two Amcri- 



TJ13. . HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 233 

can officers, Lieutenant Brooks, and Midshipman Laub, of 
the Lawrence ; and three British, Captain Finnis, and Lieu- 
tenant Stoke of the Charlotte, and Lieutenant Garland of the 
Detroit, lie interred by the side of each other, in this lonely 
place, on the margin of the lake, a few paces from the beach. 

This interesting battle was fought midway of the lake, be- 
tween the two hostile armies, who lay on the opposite shores, 
waiting in anxious expectation, its result. The allied British 
and Indian forces to the amount of four thousand five hundred, 
under Proctor and Tecumseh, were at Maiden ready, in case 
of a successful issue, to renew their rav^ages on the American 
borders. 

General Harrisoti^s Army. — General Harrison, with the 
main body of the Americans, lay around Sandusky bay, and 
at fort Meigs, prepared in the event of success by the Ameri- 
can squadron, to recover Detroit, and cany the war into 
Canada. His army had lately received an important rein- 
forcement of three thousand volunteers from Kentucky, with 
Governor Shelby at their head. The valour and patriotism 
of the citizens of that state, instead of being damped by the 
loss, of their comrades at the river Raisin, and fort Meigs, 
glowed veith increased ardour. Secure, in consequence of 
her central situation, from invasion either by land or water, 
Kentucky might have contented herself with bearing her pro- 
portion of the public burthens, and answering occasional calls 
of militia with little hazard to the lives of her citizens. But 
instead of this cautious and prudent course, her sons in great 
numbers, were found foremost in the ranks of volunteers in 
distant expeditions. Colonel R. M. Johnson, who had been 
a zealous advocate for the strongest war measures in Con- 
gress, and to whom Mr. Randolph had pledged himself the 
preceding winter to follow to the tented field; immediately 
on his return from Congress opened a rendezvous at Lexing- 
ton, raised a fine regiment of mounted volunteers, and accom- 
panied Governor Shelby to the army of the north-west. With 
these reinforcements the general found his army about six 

30 



234 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 11. 

thousand strong, and anxious to retrieve the losses of thr 
past season. 

Commodore Perry, having landed his prisoners at San- 
dusky, whence they were escorted under the direction of 
General Harrison to the depot of Chilicothe, and made equal 
provision for the wounded of both squadrons, prepared to 
transport the army to Maiden. The Kentucky mounted vol- 
unteers took the route by the western border of the lake to 
Detroit, and passed the river Raisin at Frenchtown, where, 
in the January preceding, the army under General Winches- 
ter was captured and massacred. Here they halted for a day, 
collected the unburied remains of their relatives and fellow- 
citizens, and consigned them to the earth. Having performed 
"Jiis solemn duty, they pi:oceeded on their route to meet Gen- 
eral Harrison. 

Proctor evacuates Maiden. On the capture of his fleet, 
Proctor, learning the preparation that Harrison was making 
for the invasion of Canada, determined to abandon Maiden, 
Detroit, and the western section of the Canadas, and to re- 
tire by the river Thames, through the wilderness, to the Niag- 
ara frontier. He put his heavy artillery and baggage aboard 
boats, and sent them by Detroit to the mouth of the Thames, 
thence up that river, towards -the Moravian towns, and pre- 
pared to destroy the works at Maiden and Detroit. The 
sagacious Tecumseh saw in these measures the total ruin of 
the Tndian confederacy, which he had formed under the 
auspices of the British government, for the destruction of the 
American settlements in the west, and with it all his pros- 
pects. 

The British government had sent to Tecumseh and his In- 
dians considerable presents in arms, ammunition, and blan- 
kets, to encourage and reward their fidelity ; these had ar- 
rived at Maiden some days before the battle on the lake ; but 
Proctor, apprehensive that if the Indians got possession of 
their presents, they could leave him, had refused to deliver 
them. Before their departure from Maiden, Tecumseh de- 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 235 

rnanded these goods, and addressed Proctor in the following 
strong and severe terms: 

Tecumseh^s Speech. " In the name of the Indian chiefs and 
warriors, to General Proctor, the representative of our Great 
Father the King, 

" Father ! listen to your children. You have them now 
all before you. The war before this, our British father gave 
the hatchet to his red children, when our old chiefs were alive. 
They are now dead. In that war our father was thrown on 
his back by the Americans, and he afterwards took them by 
the hand without our knowledge, and we are afraid he will do 
so again at this time. 

" Listen ! when war was declared, our father stood up and 
gave us the tomahawk, and told us he was now ready to strike 
the Americans, and that he wanted our assistance, and that 
he would certainly get our lands back, which the Americans 
had taken from us. 

"Listen! you told us to bring our families to this place, 
and we did so. You promised to take care of them, and that 
they should want for nothing, while the men would go and 
fight the enemy. You told your red children that you would 
take good care of your garrison here, which made our hearts 
glad. 

"Listen, father! our fleet has gone out; we know they 
have fought ; we have heard the great guns, but know nothing 
of what has happened to our father with one arm.* Our 
ships have gone one way, and wc are very much astonished 
to see our father tying up every thing, and preparing to run 
away the other, without letting his red children know what 
he means. You always told us to remain here, and take care 
of our lands, which made our hearts glad. Our great father 
the king is the head, and you represent him. You always 
told us you never could draw your foot oft' British ground ; 
but now, father, we see you are drawing back without seeing 



* Commodore Barclay. 



236 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CHAP-il 

the enemy. We must compare our fafher-s conduct to a fat 
animal, that carries his tail on his back, but when affrighted 
drops it belweeti its legs and runs off. 

"Listen, father! the Americans have not yet defeated us 
by land ; nor are \vc sure they have done so by water. We 
wish to remain here and fight our enemy, should they make 
their appearance. If they defeat us, we shall then retreat 
with our father. 

" Father! we see you preparing to march out of the garri- 
son. You have got the arms and ammunition which the great 
father sent to his red children. If you have any idea of going 
away, give them to us, and you may go. Our lives are in the 
hands of the Great Spirit; we are determined to defend our 
lands, and if it is His will, we are determined to leave our 
bones upon them." 

Proctor was in a strongly fortified camp, with abundance of 
munitions of war, and with nearly as many troops as his 
antagonist could be expected to bring against him. His 
chance of a successful defence at this point, was better ihan 
at any other to which he might retreat: yet neitlicr these con- 
siderations, nor the bold and severe remonstrances of Tecum- 
seh and his associates, had any influence upon his fears; he 
determined to prevent the threatened attack of the American 
general, by an early retreat beyond his reach. On the 24th 
of September, he broke up his camp at Maiden, destroyed the 
public buildings, and all the stores that he could not carry 
with him, and commenced a precipitate retreat towards the 
head of the Thames. Many of his Indians left him; Tecum- 
seh, and the greater part of the warriors followed with reluc- 
tance. At Dalson's farm, on the Thames, sixty miles from 
Detroit, he made a halt to wait the arrival of his boats with 
the artillery and baggage. 

Harrisoji's pursuit. Harrison lost no tinie in carrying his 
plans into effect. On the 27th of September, he embarked 
his army at Portage, and landed at Maiden ; finding his ene- 
aiv had fled, he proceeded immediately to Sandwich, detached 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 237 

General M'Arthiir, with seven hundred men, to re-occupy 
Detroit and the Michigan territory; and on the second of 
October, being joined by Colonel Johnson's mounted volun- 
teers, proceeded up the Thames in pursuit of Proctor. His 
effective force now amounted to thirty-five hundred men. 
Commodore Perry volunteered his services as aid to Gene- 
ral Harrison, and contributed much to the success of the ex- 
pedition, which his naval victory had rendered practicable. 
On the evening of the second of October, the army reached 
the river, twenty-five miles from Sandwich. Here they came 
to a branch of the Thames, over which a bridge had been 
erected, and left entire : ihcy passed this on the morning of 
the third, and hastened on rapidly to another branch, where 
they found and captured a small party who had been sent 
back to destroy the bridge; this they had time only partially 
to accomplish: the bridge was soon repaired, and the army 
encamped on the evening of the third at Drake's farm. The 
artillery and heavy baggage were brought in boats, provided 
by Commodore Perry, up the Thames as far as Dalson's. 
Thus far the banks were low, and the country an open 
prairie. Above this point the banks were high and woody, 
affording abundant places for ambuscade. General Harrison 
left the boats and most of the heavy baggage at Dalson's, un- 
der a guard of one hundred and fifty infantry. On the 4th, 
the army proceeded to Chatham, four miles in advance of 
Dalson's : here they came to a third unfordable branch of the 
Thames. Proctor had destroyed the bridge at the mouth of 
this stream, and also the one at M'Gregor's mills, one mile 
above. Large bodies of Indians appeared on the opposite 
bank to dispute the passage, and commenced a sharp fire on 
the American advance guard. The army was formed in order 
of batde, two six pounders were drawn up, and a few well 
directed discharges dispersed the savages. A bridge was 
immediately constructed, and the army crossed and continued 
their advance. Proctor learning the near approach of Harri- 
son, had conveyed his boats up the river as far as practicable. 



238 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. C"«ap. 11. 

and set fire to them. In addition to the baggage of the army, 
the boats British contained the large supphes of blankets, arms, 
and ammunition for the Indians, which Tecumseh had claim- 
ed to have delivered to them at Maiden. A part of these 
•supplies were landed and stored in buildings on the river, and 
a part remained on board the boats. A quantity of them was 
found in a house which was in flames near the last bridge. 
The fire was soon extinguished, and the arms saved. At the 
first farm above the bridge was found one of the enemy's 
boats on fire, deeply laden with Indian supphes ; and at 
Bowie's farm, four miles further in advance, where the army 
halted for the night, they found two other boats, and a large 
distillery, filled with ordnance and other valuable stores, in 
flames. Two twenty-four pounders, with their carriages, and 
a large quantity of ammunition and shells, were taken at this 
place. On the 5th, the army continued their march on the 
left bank, and took two gun-boats, and several batteaux 
laden with provisions and ammunition. By nine o'clock, 
they arrived at Arnold's mills, where was the only fording- 
place for several miles ; and this was now too deep for in- 
fantry. Each dragoon took one of the infantry behind him, 
and crossed over; by these means, and with the assistance 
of some boats, the army were soon landed on the right bank, 
and immediately commenced their line of march up the river. 
Eight miles further they passed a farm where the rear of the 
British army had encamped the preceding night. A recon- 
noitering party returned, and reported that Proctor, with the 
main body, was posted near the Moravian towns, four miles 
in advance. The road this distance passes through a beach 
forest, without any clearing, and for the first two miles near 
the bank of the river ; about three hundred yards from the 
river and parallel to it, an impenetrable swamp extends the 
whole distance ; the intermediate space is hard ground, some- 
what elevated, and covered with trees. The whole British 
and Indian force were drawn up in a strong position across 
this strip of hard land, their left resting on the river, sup- 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 039 

ported by a strong battery placed in the road, and their right 
protected by the swamp, and covered by the whole Indian 
force. General Harrison immediately formed his line of battle. 
General Trotter's brigade of Kentucky volunteers formed the 
front line, his right resting on the road, and his left on the 
swamp. The whole of General Desha^s division, consisting 
of two brigades, were formed upon Trotter's left flank, the 
crotchet formed by the front line, and General Desha's divi- 
sion was occupied by the venerable governor of Kentucky, 
who et the age of sixty-six, manifested all the ardour of 
youth, aided by the experience of age. The second line 
consisting of General King's brigade was formed one hun- 
dred and fifty yards in the rear of the first, and Chile's brig- 
ade as a corps de reserve in the rear of King's. The flanks 
of the enemy were secured in such a manner as to render it 
impossible to turn thenri. The only alternative was to charge 
directly in front. This hazardous duty was assigned to Colo- 
nel Johnson's mounted infantry. For this purpose they were 
drawn up in close columns with their right, at the distance of 
fifty yards from the road, protected in some measure by the 
trees from the artillery, and their left resting on the swamp; 
and were ordered to charge at full speed as soon as the ene- 
my had delivered their fire. 

Battle of the Moravian towns. Having made these arrange- 
ments, General Harrison, with Commodore Perry, Captain 
Butler, and General Cass, as his aids, took his station at the 
head of the front line, and moved on to the attack. In a few 
moments the mounted men received the fire of the British line, 
and w^ere ordered to charge. The horses in the front 
column recoiled from the fire ; another was immediately given 
by the enemy, and the American column, at length getting in 
motion, broke through the British ranks with irresistible force. 
In one minute the contest in front was over; the British offi- 
cers seeing no hopes of reducing their broken ranks to order, 
and the mounted men wheeling upon them and pouring in ai 



240 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 11. 

destructive fire, they immediately surrendered.* Upon the 
left the contest was more severe with the Indians. Colonel 
Johnson, who commanded on that tlank of his regiment, 
received a most galling fire. At the head of his column he 
led them into the hottest of the action, and was personally 
opposed to Tecumseh ; at this point a mass of savages were 
collected. Johnson, mounted on an elegant white charger, 
was easily distinguished as an officer of rank ; a shower of 
balls were discharged at him, his horse was shot and fell, his 
clothes, saddle, and person were pierced with a number of 
balls. 

Tecumseh slain, Tecumseh, seeing his antagonist falling, 
rushed towards him with his uplifted tomahawk to give the 
fatal blow ; when within a few yards, Johnson drew his pistol, 
and laid his daring opponent dead at his feet. He was una- 
ble to do more ; he had received three shots in the thigh, and 
two in the arm ; the loss of blood deprived him of the power 
of standing, and he lay exhausted and helpless by the side 
of his antagonist. At the moment Tecumseh fell, the Indians 
around him gave ^/ay. Those still further on the left of the 
American lines, advanced aind fell in with the front line of 
infantry near its junction with Desha's division, and for a 
moment made an impression ; Governor Shelby, however, 
brou['Jit up another regiment to its support, and a part of 
Colonel Johnson's regiment having gained their rear, they 
retreated with precipitation. Six Americans and twenty-two 
Indians were slain within twenty yards of the spot where 
Tecumseh lay. Most of the severe fighting was on this 
ground. But seven Americans were killed, and twenty-two 
wounded in the action. Of the British regulars, twelve were 
killed, and twenty-two wounded; six hundred, including 
twenty-five officers, were taken prisoners. Of the Indians, 
twenty-two were found dead on the field, and many more 
killed on the retreat. Six pieces of brass artillery, and two 

* General Harrison's l«tter to the secretary of Tf ar. 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 241 

twenty-four pounders were taken, and several sunk in the 
river. Of the brass pieces, three were of those taken from 
the British in the revolutionary war, and surrendered by Gen- 
eral Hull at Detroit. Proctor narrowly escaped leaving his 
sword, baggage, and papers, in possession of the victors. 

The fruits of this victory were the total dispersion of the 
allied British and Indian forces, who had for more than a year 
past ravaged the north-western frontier. The capture of 
all their baggage, provisions, and arms, and a large quantity 
of military stores destined to supply the Indians, and the re- 
storation of Detroit and the Michigan territory. Among Proc- 
tor's papers were found several letters from British agents 
among the Indians, clearly evincing that they had at different 
times since the peace of 1783, and before the commencement 
of the present war, instigated them to acts of hostihty against 
the United States. Proctor fled to the Niagara frontier, and 
was afterwards tried by a court martial, ai'd disgraced. The 
brave Kentuckians had now in their power the very authors 
and instigators of the massacres of their brethren at the river 
Raisin; but, two noble to seek revenge on a fallen foe, they 
treated them with the humanity and kindness due to prisoners 
of war; and, on their return safely conducted them to camp 
Ball at Chilicothe, to join their brethren in the navy. From 
the second to the fifth of October, General Harrison, with an 
army of three thousand five hundred men, penetrated the wil- 
derness a distance of eigiity miles; overtook, fought, and van- 
quished an enemy, his equal in numbers on their own ground, 
and returned to Detroit by the 9th; an expedition for success 
and despatch scarcely equalled in the annals of history. 

Effects of the Victory. This victory completely broke up 
and dispersed the Indian confederacy of the north-west. Most 
of the warriors forsook their allies, and came in and threw 
themselves on the mercy of the Americans. The wretched 
remains of the hostile tribes were in a forlorn and destitute 
condition. The winter approaching, and they and their fami- 
lies ahke destitute of clothing, and provisions, or the means 

31 



2^2 



HISTORY OF THE LAT£ WAR. Chap. 11 



of obtaining them. In this situation the Americans extended 
the hand of charity, and supplied them with necessaries during 
the winter. 

The British policy of uniting the Indians in a war of ex- 
termination against the frontier settlements of the United 
States, was not only barbarous and inhuman in itself, but ab- 
solutely abortive in its effects. The objects of the British 
government were, to prevent the increase of the settlements 
in the western country, to render the war so distressing to the 
border inhabitants, as to induce a submission to their views, 
and to increase and extend their power among the Indian 
tribes. Precisely the reverse of all these effects were pro- 
duced by the events of this campaign. The Indian war laid 
open to the view of land speculators, the fine country occu- 
pied by the Indians, and conducted an emigration to the 
western states immediately after the close of the war, unequal- 
led at any former period. The cruelties practised by the 
savages in their incursions, rendered the war popular, and 
nerved every arm in defence of the country ; and the final 
dereliction of their cause by Proctor, gave a fatal blow to 
British influence among the savages. The frontiers have en- 
joyed greater security since the defeat of Proctor, than al 
any former period, and the influence of the American govern- 
ment over the Indians within their limits, has, in a great 
measure, superseded the British. 



CHAPTEa XII. 

Montreal. — Back Passage from Montreal to the Upper Lakes. — Britisk 
Naval Force on Lake Ontario. — American, under Commodore Chaun- 
cey. — Military Force destined for a Descent on Montreal. — Expedi- 
tions ag-ainst York. — Death of General Pike. — Attack on Sackett's 
Harbour. — Capture of Fort George. — British retire to Burlington 
Heights. — Battle at Stoney Creek. — Capture of Generals Chandler 
and Winder. — Battle at the Beaver Dams. — Capture of Colonel 
Boerstler's Detachment. — Colonel Scott's Expedition to Burlington 
Heights and York. — General Wilkinson appointed to the command of 
the Northern Army. — Arrives at Sacketfs Harbour. — Makes arrange- 
ments for a Descent on Montreal. — War Department removed to 
Sackett's Harbour. — Troops embark from Fort George for Grenadier 
Island. — Sailing of the Flotilla from French Creek. — Descent on the 
St. Lawrence. — Pursuit of the British. — Battle at Williamsburgh. — 
General Covington killed. — Flotilla arrives at the foot of the Long 
Sault. — General Hampton refuses to join the Expedition. — Corres- 
pondence between him and General Wilkinson. — Expedition aban- 
doned. — Army go into Winter-Quarters at French Mills. — General 
Hampton's advances to Chatauguay. — Returns to Plattsburgh. — Ver- 
mont Militia called out by the War Department to guard Plattsburffh. 
— Ordered to return by Governor Chittenden. — Causes of the failure 
of the Expedition. — Defence of the Niagara Frontier intrusted to 
General M'Clure and the New- York Militia.— Evacuation of Fort 
George and burning of Newark. — Fort Niagara taken.— Massacre.— 
Burning of the Niagara Frontier.— Militia retire to Batavia.— Gov- 
ernor Prevost's Proclamation. 

Montreal. The conquest of the Canadas was avowedly 
the main object of the military operations in the north. Que- 
bec, strongly fortified by nature and art, and accessible by sea 
for the largest ships of war, was considered y^nassailable ; but 
Montreal, and the whole country to the north-west, was deemr 
ed an easy acquisition. The latter city stands on the south 
side of an island of the same name in the river St. Lawrence, 
thirty miles long and ten broad, five hundred miles from the 



^44 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. 12. 

sea at the head of ship navigation ; and is the most populous 
and commercial city of British America, containing twenty 
thousand inhabitants. All the merchandise with which the 
north-western country is supplied, is here deposited. The 
western Indians, the inhabitants of Upper Canada, and the 
inhabitants of the United States bordering on the lakes, are 
supplied from this source ; their returns are also deposited 
here, from whence they are shipped to various European mar- 
kets. From this point the British north-west company, one 
of the richest, and most profitable establishments in Europe, 
carry on their immense traffic with the natives of the north- 
west, and extend their enterprises to the borders of the Pa- 
cific. They employ several thousand men, and aftbrd a great 
market for British manufactures. A large proportion of this 
intercourse is carried on by means of the back passage from 
Montreal to the upper lakes. 

Back Passage to the Upper Lakes. Near the south-western 
extremity of the island, the Ottaway, or Grand river, enters the 
St. Lawrence from the north-west. The merchandise des- 
tined for lake Huron and the regions beyond, is put up in 
packages of about one hundred weight each, and together 
with the necessary provisions, are put on board birch canoes, 
which carry ten men each, with their provisions, and sixty 
packages oi" merchandise. In the month of May annually, 
large flotillas of this species of water craft leave Montreal, 
enter the Ottaway, and proceed on their voyage to the upper 
lakes. Fifteen miles from the mouth of the Ottaway, the 
navigation is interrupted by rapids, for the distance of ten 
miles. At the foot of these, the canoes arc unloaded, and 
their contents transported on men's shoulders this distance, 
and the canoes towed up the current with great labour. 
After passing these rapids, the stream is tranquil and of easy 
navigation for sixty miles, where the voyagers reacbthe portage 
of Chaudiere. Here is a cascade of twenty feet, around which 
he canoes with all their lading, are transported on men's 
shoulders. Thence to the portage des Chenes, the passage is 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. * 24.!> 

short. There are two smaller portages in the distance ol" 
eighteen miles to the grand Columet where the current is again 
tranquil. There are four other portages on this river where 
the voyagers have to transport all their lading and canoes on 
their shoulders, before they arrive to the mouth of the Petit 
Reviere, which falls into the Ottaway from the south-west, 
four hundred miles from Montreal. Here the voyagers must 
turn off to the left and ascend this river, sixty-five miles, in- 
terrupted by thirteen portages, to the high lands which divide 
the waters of lake Huron, from those of the Ottaway. Across 
these heights is a land carriage of six miles, where the voy- 
agers have to transport their canoes, packages, and provisions, 
to lake Nipissing ; this, without the aid of beasts of burden^ 
is a work of time and immense labour ; the men having to 
travel the ground from twenty to thirty times to get all their 
baggage across. This lake is thirty-six miles long and 
fifteen broad, around which the voyagers must coast until 
they reach the entrance of French river, which flows from 
this lake to Huron, a distance of eighty miles. The navi- 
gation is interrupted on this river by five portages. Hav- 
ing reached lake Huron, the men, provisions, and mer- 
chandise are transported in small vessels across the lake to 
fort St. Josephs, at the foot of the straits of St. Marie, by 
which the waters of lake Superior communicate with Hu- 
ron. The navigation of these straits is interrupted by falls. 
From fort St. Joseph's the merchandise which has been thus 
transported is distributed in various directions to the Indians 
of the north-west, their furs collected, and transported by the 
same route to Montreal. 

The merchandise destined for tke more southern regions 
is transported in boats up the St. Lawrence to Kingston, 
whence it is shipped in lake vessels to Queenston at the foot 
of the Niagara cataract, thence transported by land around 
the falls and re-shipped on lake Erie. Montreal is the em- 
porium of this commerce; and the nation possessing it of 
course commands all the countrv on the lakes above. The 



MG IIISTOUY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. i'2. 

occupation of this city, which would necessarily draw with 
it the possession of U])pcr Canada, formed the princi]>al 
object of the campaign of 1813, on the Canada border. 

Sackelt^s Harbour. As a previous step, the command 
of lake Ontario was absolutely essential. For this pur- 
pose, Sackett's Harbour, on the east end ot the lake near 
its outlet, was selected as a naval depot. This harbour 
lies at the mouth of the Black river, nearly opposite to, 
and thirty miles distant from Kingston, the principal mili- 
tary and naval station of the British on the lake. The har- 
bour has a sufficient depth of water, is well sheltered, and 
capable of defence, and is one hundred and seventy miles 
Irom Albany, from whence supplies were to be drawn for the 
naval and military operations of the campaign. 

Ontario Fleet. The British had a considerable military 
force at Kingston, and a respectable navy under the command 
of Sir James Yeo, late commander of the frigate Southampton, 
an experienced, intelligent, and judicious officer. Commo- 
dore Isaac Chauncey, an officer of experience and high repu- 
tation, was selected by the American government, for the 
command on this station, and arrived at the harbour with a 
large body of sailors and marines on the Gth of October, 1812. 
At this time the United States had but one vessel, the brig 
Oneida, on the lake. The British force consisted of six 
vessels, mounting eighty guns. Chauncey immediately pur- 
chased all the merchant ships which were obtainable, and 
fitled them for the naval service. By the 8th of November, 
he had obtained and equipped a sufficient force to appear oa 
the lake, and sailed with the Oneida and six schooners, in 
quest of his antagonist. On the 10th he fell in with the Royal 
George, the largest of the enemy's ships, chased her into 
Kingston harbour, and captured two schooners. On the 1 2th 
he took the transport sloop Elizabeth, chased the Earl Moira 
into Kingston, and blockaded that harbour until the 7th of 
December, when the ice obliged him to return to Sackett's 
Harbour, and suspend further operntions until spring. On 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 047 

the 26th of November, the ship Madison was launched iit 
fifty-five days from the time of laying her keel; and the ship 
General Pike was built, launched, and equipped in one hun- 
dred days. 

At the opening of the spring of 1813, the American fleet 
had the complete ascendency on the lake. Chauncey was 
able to confine every British ship to the harbour of Kingston. 
A respectable military foi'ce of six thousand men, composing 
the army of the north, had been organized under General 
Oearborn for the conquest of Canada : the neighbouring mili- 
tia might be called in, to any amount, to supply any defi- 
ciency of numbers in the regular army; and to guard the 
harbour in their absence. No reinforcements had or could 
arrive for the protection of Montreal until June. Under 
these circumstances a descent upon that city early in the 
season, must have been attended with undoubted success. 
Unfortunately this favourable state of things escaped the no- 
tice of the officer at the head of the war department, and the 
energies of the nation were directed to a much less important 
and less attainable object. 

Capture of York. On the 23d of April, General Dearborn 
embarked at Sackett's Harbour, with sixteen hundred men on 
an expedition against York, at the head of the lake, leaving 
the defence of the harbour, with all the stores, public property^ 
and a new ship on the stocks, to a handful of regulars, under 
Colonel Backus, and the neighbouring militia not then ar- 
rived. It seemed to have escaped the observation of the 
commanding general, that the enemy would probably in his 
absence, strike at an important post thus left uncovered. On 
the 27th, General Dearborn with the fleet, arrived before the 
town of York and immediately commenced a disembarkation, 
The commanding general intrusted the further prosecution of 
the expedition to General Pike, and remained on board the 
fleet. To oppose their landing a corps of British grenadiers, 
the Glengary fencibles, and several bodies of Indians, appear- 
ed at different points on the shore. At eight o'clock the trooper 



248 HISTORY OF T[rE LATE WAR. Chap. VZ. 

commenced their landing, three miles westward of the town, 
and a mile and a half distant frojn the British works. The 
place first designated for their landing, was a cleared field 
near the site of the old French fort Tarento; but the wind 
was high and prevented the first division from landing at that 
place, and also prevented the ships from covering their disem- 
barkation. The riflemen under Major Forsythe first landed 
under a heavy fire from the enemy. Major General Sheafie 
had collected his whole force, consisting of about seven or 
eight hundred regulars and militia, with a hundred Indians, to 
oppose their landing, and commanded in person. Major 
Forsythe, although supported by the other troops as promptly 
as possible, was obliged to sustain alone a sharp conflict with 
the whole British for«e for nearly half an hour. As soon as 
General Pike had eftectcd his landing with about eight hun- 
dred men, the British retreated to their works. The main 
body of the Americans landed and formed at old fort Tarento, 
and quickly advanced through a thick wood to an open 
ground near the British works. The first battery was car- 
ried by assault, and the columns moved on towards the main 
-works ; when the head of the column had arrived within about 
sixty rods, a tremendous explosion took place from a maga- 
zine prepared for that purpose, and killed and wounded one 
hundred men. General Pike was mortally wounded by a 
stone which was thrown up by the explosion, and struck him 
on the breast. He was immediately conveyed on board the 
commodore's ship, and soon expired. After the confusion 
wlrich these events necessarily occasioned, the American 
troops proceeded to the town, and agreed to a capitulation 
with the commanding officers of the Canadian militia, by 
which it was stipulated, that all the public property should be 
delivered to the Americans, the militia surrendered prisoners 
of war, and private property protected. Immediately after 
the explosion, General Sheaffe, with the regulars, retreated 
out of the reach of the American arms. Two hundred and 
fifty militia, and fifty marines and regulars were included in the 



I«i3, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 249 

eapitulation. The American loss was fourteen killed in 
battie, and fifty-two by the explosion ; twenty-three wounded 
in battle, and one hundred and eighty by the explosion. One 
large vessel on the stocks, and a quantity of naval stores were 
set fire to by the British, and consumed ; but more naval 
stores were taken by the Americans than could be carried 
away. The public buildings for military use, and the mili- 
tary stores which could ^ot be removed, were destroyed. 
York was the seat of government for Upper Canada, and the 
principal depot for the Niagara frontier, and Detroit. Gen- 
eral Sheaffe's baggage and papers were taken. In the gov- 
ernment hall a human scalp was found, suspended over the 
speaker's chair, with the mace and other emblems of power. 
This building was burned, contrary to the orders of the Ameri- 
can general.* 

Having accomplished the object of the expedition at York, 
the fleet proceeded immediately to Niagara, landed the troops 
at the fort, and returned to Sackett's Harbour. 

Attack on SacketCs Harbour. The defenceless situation of 
this post, after the sailing of the fleet and troops for the head 
of the lake, did not escape the British military and naval com- 
manders at Kingston. On the 29th of May, the post was 
attacked by the combined land and naval forces under Sir 
George Prevost, and Sir James Yeo. General Brown, of 
the New-York militia, had been requested by General Dear- 
born, previously to his leaving the harbour, to take command 
at this post. He arrived on the 28th; and on the same day 
Lieutenant Chauncey, in one of the look-out schooners, came 
in from the lake, and gave notice of the approach of the 
enemy from Kingston. Alarm guns were immediately fired 
from tjie posts, to give notice and bring in the militia. Expect- 
ing a landing at the peninsula called Horse Island, Colonel 
Mills, with the militia and Albany volunteers, formed the first 
line to receive the enemy at the water-edge. They were 

* General Dearborn's letter to the secretary of war. 



250 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. t2 

ordered to lie under cover, and reserve their fire until tlie 
enemy had approached so near, that every shot might take 
effect. The regulars^ under Colonel Backus, formed the 
second hne; the defence of fort Tompkins was intrusted to 
the regular artillerists, and volunteers; and that of Nftvy 
Point, and the barracks and stores, to Lieutenant Chauncey, 
who was ordered in case of defeat, to destroy the public- 
stores, and retire to the south side of the bay. On the 27thy 
and duri g the nights of the 28th and 29th, considerable 
bodies of militia arrived from the adjacent country -, these 
"were ordered to the water-side, to unite with the first line 
under Colonel Mills, whose command now amounted to five 
hundred. At break of day on the 29th, the enemy's fleet 
appeared in a line between Horse Island and Stony Point, 
and in a few minutes thirty-three large boats filled with 
froops, put off under cover of a heavy fire from the gun-boats. 
On their approach, the militia rose and fired without orders, 
and too soon to produce any important effect, and immediately 
fled. Colonel Mills was slain in attempting to rally them* 
Oeneral Brown succeeded in rallying about one hundred, 
under the command of Captain M'Nutt, and fell upon the 
pear of the enemy's left flank. The British advanced through 
a thick wood to the rear of the village; here they were met 
by Colonel Backus, with the regulars, and such militia as 
could be brought up, and a severe conflict ensued. The contest 
lasted an hour and a half, when the British retreated to their 
boats, and re-embarked without being molested. Lieutenant 
'Chauncey, being informed that the British had gained posses- 
sion of the town, agreeable to his orders in such an event, set 
fire to the store houses and barracks, by which all the naval 
and military stores, and provisions collected for the service, 
were con^sumed. The American loss was twenty-one killed, 
and one hundred and thirty-five wounded and missing. 
Colonel Backus was mortally wounded, and died soon after 
the battle. The British left twenty-nine killed, and twenty- 
three wounded on t.he field, and thirty-fivo prisoners, besides 



Igi3. HISTORY OP TItE LATE WAR. 251 

the killed and wounded in the boats before landing, and what 
they took from the field on their retreat. Previous to this 
descent, Commodore Chauncey had returned from York, and 
deposited at the harbour the avails of that expedition, and 
gone back to Niagara with reinforcements. From the 23d 
of April to the 28th of May, this important depot, on the pre- 
servation of which the military and naval operations of the 
campaign must essentially depend, was left uncovered. The 
enemy from Kingston might at any time reach it in a single 
day, with a superior force, and accomplish its destruction^ 
The loss of these stores was of the more consequence to the 
Americans, as the distance from Albany was such, that they 
could not be again seasonably replaced. This loss very 
much aifected the future operations of the campaign, and can 
only be ascribed to an ambition to gain eclat, by striking at 
an unguarded point of the enemy's lines, at the expense of 
the real objects of the war. 

While these events were taking place at Sackett's Har- 
bour, operations of some importance were going on at 
the head of the lake. The main army under General Dear- 
born, lay at Niagara from the 8th to the 27th of May, 
when Commodore Chauncey having returned from the 
harbour with reinforcements, a descent was made upon fort 
iJeorge. On the morning of the 27th, the light troops under 
Colonel Scott, and Major Forsyth, supported by Colonel 
Porter's light artillery, and General Lewis's division, crossed 
the river, and attacked the fort| they were soon followed by 
Generals Boyd's, Chandler's, and Winder's brigades. Com- 
raodore Chauncey had made the most judicious arrangements 
with his small ships, to silence the enemy's batteries at the 
point of landing. The descent was warmly contested at the. 
water's edge by the British ; but they were soon compelled to 
give way, and the landing was completed. 

Capture of Fori Georgi:. The American batteries sooii 
succeeded in rendering the fort untenable. The British troops, 
letiring from the river bank, re-entered the fort, fired a fe\y 
shot, and then set fire to the magazine and mnve<l off in dif- 



252 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAK. Chap. li'. 

ferent directions. Of the British regular troops, ninety were 
killed, one hundred and sixty wounded, and one hundred 
taken prisoners. The Americans lost seventeen killed, and 
sixty-five wounded. On the 28th, the garrison at Erie aban- 
doned that fort, blew up the magazine, and retreated towards 
the head of the lake, arid the Americans took possession the 
same day. The capture of fort George being accomplished, 
General Dearborn removed his head-quarters 'o that post. 
The British garrisons on the Niagara peninsula retired, con- 
centrated their forces, and made a stand on Burlington heights, 
near the head of the lake, forty miles west of fort George^ 
Generals (.'handler and Winder, with large detachments, went 
in pursuit of them ; and on the 5th of June the advance of 
the Americans had a skirmish with their outposts, and retired 
behind Stoney creek. Here they encamped for the night : 
the light infantry, and part of the rifle corps, formed the right 
wing ; the artillery the centre ; the infantry, and the residue of 
the riflemen, the left ; and the cavalry the rear. In this posi-^ 
tion, the troops, amounting to a thousand men, rested on thcii* 
arms. 

Battle of Stoney Creek. At two in the morning, the British 
appeared in force, drove in the pickets, and attacked the 
main body. The fire continued without intermission for aii 
hour. The British broke through the centre and gained the 
rear of the artillery. General Chandler supposing them to 
be Americans, rode in among them, and while issuing his or- 
ders was made prisoner, disarmed, and conveyed to the Brit- 
ish rear. General Winder coming up to his support, was 
Inade prisoner a few minutes afterv/ards. After a conflict of 
an hour in a dark night, \vhen it was impossible to distinguish 
friends from foes, the Americans retreated behind Forty Mile 
creek, ten miles in the rear of the battle ground, with the loss 
of several pieces of artillery. Towards evening of the same 
day. Sir James arrived with his fleet a mile from shore, abreast 
of where the Americans Avere encamped. The troops again 
Jay on their arms during the night expecting another attack* 



1813* HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 253 

The next morning they struck their tents, and prepared to re- 
treat. The boats containing their baggage and camp equip- 
age, lay becalmed on the beach^ Sir James towed in a large 
schooner, and opened a gaUing fire upon them, but the artil- 
lery from the shore soon compelled him to retire, and the bag- 
gage was re-landed. The Indians now appeared in large 
bodies on the brow of the mountain, and commenced a firing 
on the camp ; biit were soon dispersed by a detachment un- 
der Colonel Chrystie. A flag was sent in by the commanding 
officers of the land and naval forces, demanding a surrender 
of the army, stating, that surrounded as they were by a fleet 
in front, the land forces on their flanks, and the Indians in 
their rear, it was impossible to effect a retreat. The reply 
was, that the demand was too extravagant to merit an answer. 
The next morning the baggage and camp equipage was again 
put on board the boats, and the army commenced their retreat 
to fort George. The boats were overtaken and attacked by 
an armed schooner, and twelve of them destroyed. The 
Canadian militia and Indians hung on, and harassed the 
flanks and rear of the army until evening, when they arrived 
at the fort, with the loss of the two commanding generals, 
and the principal part of their artillery and baggage. The 
British troops immediately occupied the ground they had 
left. 

On the 23d of June, another expedition, equally injudicious, 
and more disastrous in its result, was directed by the Ameri- 
can general. 

Battle of the Beaver Dams, Colonel Boerslter was de- 
tached from fort George, with 570 men, to the Beaver Dams, 
on the heights ten miles westerly of Queenston, to attack a 
party of the British, collected there for the purpose of pro'- 
curing provisions, and harassing such of the inhabitants as 
they considered friendly to the United States. But this de- 
tachment was unfortunately much inferior to the force they 
nvere sent to attack^ and no supporting detachment was or- 
dered out to their assistance. At eis^ht o'clock, in the morn-' 



234 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12- 

ing of the second day of their march, when within about two 
miles of the place of their destination, they fell into an am- 
buscade ; but having succeeded in repulsing the enemy, and 
gaining a cleared field, they sent to fort George, a distance 
of fifteen miles, for reinforcements ; before any arrived they 
were again attacked by a much superior force, and the whole 
detachment captured. 

Expedition to Burlington ayid York. On the 28th of July, 
another expedition, under the command of Colonel Scott, 
against the British post on Burlington heights, embarked on 
boai'd the fleet at fort George, and proceeded to the head of 
Burlington bay. On the 31st, they landed on a point which 
separates the bay from the lake, and reconnoitered the British 
position ; finding it protected on three sides by a creek, and 
defended in front by heavy batteries, on an eminence out of 
the reach of guns from the shipping, they did not deem it 
prudent to make an attack, and immediately re-embarked. 
On their return they put into York, burnt the barracks and 
public stores, and brought off one piece of ordnance, and a 
large quantity of flour. 

After the destruction of the American naval stores at Sack- 
ett's Harbour, Sir James, by extraordinary exertions, and the 
addition of two new ships, had his fleet in a situation in which 
he ventured to appear on the lake. On the 7th of August, 
he appeared before fort George, where Commodore Chauncey 
lay at anchor with his fleet; the latter immediately went out, 
and in a gale which happened on the night of the 8th, two of 
his schooners upset, and all on board except sixteen perished. 
On the 10th, he had a skirmish with Sir James, in which two 
of his schooners were taken* After a running fight for some 
hours, both parties seemed willing to avoid a decisive contest, 
and separated. In this manner terminated the operations of 
the American forces on lake Ontario, under the direction of 
General Dearborn. None of the important objects of the 
campaign had been effected ; severe and heavy losses had 
been sustained, and the only favourable time for a descent on 



isrs. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 255 

Montreal had gone by. The general had been most of the 
time an invahd, and had never appeared to lead his troops in 
any expedition. Plans of conquest formed at Washington, 
without adequate information of the condition and strength of 
the enemy, and intrusted to the execution of feeble and 
worn out commanders, uniformly proved abortive. Adminis- 
tration had become convinced that Montreal was not to be 
taken under the auspices of General Dearborn ; and General 
Wilkinson was called from the south to supersede him. On 
the 6th of July, an order issued from the war department, 
directing General Dearborn " to retire from the command of 
his military district, and the troops within the same ;" but his 
rank, pay, and establishment were continued until the end of 
the war. On his departure from fort George, he received 
an address from the field officers of his army, expressing in 
flattering terms their regret at his removal, their confidence 
in his talents, and their apprehensions that the public interest 
would essentially suffer by the loss of his services. 

General Wilkinson appointed to the Command of the J^orth* 
General Wilkinson arrived at Washington from the south, on 
the first of August, and having spent several days with the 
cabinet in arranging the plan of operations in the north, pro* 
ceeded on his journey, and arrived at Sackett's Harbaur ob 
the 20th. The force placed under his command, and des- 
tined to act upon Canada, consisted of the right wing of four 
thousand at Burlington, Vermont, under the command of Gen^ 
eral Hampton; the centre at Sackett's harbour, and the left 
under General Boyd, at fort George. The whole regular 
force, including the reinforcements that soon after arrived, 
amounted to twelve thousand. In addition to the regular 
army, the militia of the neighbouring counties might be called 
in at any time, in such numbers as might be necessary for the 
defence of the posts, or to augment the regular army. The 
British forces of every description, opposed to Wilkinson, 
amounted to about eight thousand ; the left at Montreal and 



256 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. \% 

adjacent country eastward ; the centre at Kingston ; and the 
right on the Niagara frontier. 

Preparations for the Montreal Expedition. On the 26th of 
August, General Wilkinson called a council of war, con- 
sisting of all his general officers, and the commander of the 
fleet, at which a descent on Montreal was advised. The 
general then immediately proceeded to the Niagara, to make 
arrangements to withdraw the regular troops from that quar- 
ter. At a council of war, composed of all the general and 
field officers at fort George, it was decided, that that post 
should be abandoned, and the forces withdrawn ; this opinion, 
however, was afterwards changed, and the defence of fort 
George and the Niagara frontier intrusted to General M'Clure, 
and the New- York militia. 

To superintend the operations, and ensure success to the 
expedition. General Armstrong arrived on the 5th of Septem- 
ber, and established the war department at Sackett's Harbour, 
General Wilkinson returned with the main body from fort 
George on the 4lh of October, and established his head-quar- 
tsrs at the harbour. The army from fort George rendezr 
voused at Grenadier Island, at the outlet of the lake, where 
ihey were joined by the troops from the harbour, prepared 
for an attack on Kingston, or a descent on Montreal, as cir- 
cumstances should indicate. At a council of war, composed 
of Generals Wilkinson, Armstrong, Lewis, and Brown, the 
descent of the St. Lawrence was agreed on. The command- 
ing general afterwards deemed it inexpedient to proceed, 
leaving so large a force at Kingston in his rear, and strongly 
remonstrated against the measure ; as large reinforcements 
had then arrived at Kingston, which would enable the enemy 
to hang upon the rear of the American troops, and render thq 
expedition hazardous. The secretary of war determined on 
the descent, and ordered the expedition to proceed. General 
Hampton, with his army, was ordered immediately to march 
for the St. Lawrence, and form a junction with the main body. 
The next place of rendezvous, before the final sailing of the 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 257 

flotilla was fixed at French creek, eighteen miles in advance 
of Grenadier Island. General Brown was ordered to pro- 
ceed to this place with the advance of the array, on the 29th 
of October. On the 1st and 2d of November, he was attacked 
by a squadron of the enemy's ships, which were repulsed by 
Captain M'Pherson's artillery, and obliged to retire. 

Flotilla enter the River. On the 3d, General Wilkiiison, 
with the rear of the army, arrived at the general rendezvous; 
and on the 5th the whole flotilla, consisting of three hundred 
boats, got under weigh, and covered the river for a distance of 
nearly five miles. On the 6th, the flotilla proceeded to a point 
within three miles of Prescott, a strong place on the Canadian 
bank, which commanded the passage of the river. Here the 
powder, and fixed ammunition, and all the troops, except as 
many as were necessary to navigate the boats, were dcliarked, 
and proceeded by land to a bay two miles below Prescott. 
The flotilla passed the fortress under cover of the night, with- 
out material injury, although assailed by a constant fire froFu 
the garrison, and arrived at the place of rendezvous below 
by ten o^clock the next morning. Here the troops and am- 
munition were re-embarked. 

To obstruct the American flotilla in itsdescenl, the British had 
strongly fortified Prescott, and established batteries at every 
commanding point on the river. A Urge detachment of troops 
from Kingston followed the course of the flotilla on the bank, 
and a squadron of small vessels and gun-boats harassed th«* 
rear. On the 7th, Colonel M'Comb with an elite corps of 
twelve hundred men, landed on the Canadian shore to dis- 
lodge the British from their posts on the river. On the 8th, 
the cavalry which had come down by land on the American 
shore as far as Hamilton, crossed the river; and General 
Brown, with a'large additional detachment, landed to reinforce 
Colonel M'Comb, and take the command. On the 10th, at the 
head of the Long Sault, another large body of troops were 
landed on the Canadian side, under the command of General 
Boyd, to protect the rear, while General Brown proceeded 

33 



2^8 MISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Qjiap. 1',' 

forward to drive the British from their positions in front. At 
noon the latter general was engaged with a party of British 
near a block-house, erected on the Sault to impede the de- 
scent. The flotilla hauled in shore to await the issue of Gen- 
eral Brown's attack. At this time a galley and several gun- 
boats from Prescott appeared, and commenced a cannonade 
on the rear of the flotilla. The slender structure of the boats 
rejidered them incapable of resisting the long twenty-fours of 
the galley, which threatened their destruction. Two eighteen 
pounders were immediately landed and formed a battery on 
shore, which opened upon the galley and gun-boats, and 
compelled them to retire. The commanding general now 
received advice from General Brown, that he had succeeded 
in dislodging the British from their posts on the river, and had 
arrived at the foot of the Sault. 

Baltic of Williamsburgh. On the Ilth,"while the flotilla 
were preparing to enter the rapids, the British appeared in 
force near Williamsburgh, in the rear of General Boyd. An 
attack was made by Swartwout's brigade on the British ad- 
vanced guard, who were driven back to the main body. 
Swartwout was now joined by Covington, and the action be- 
came general. The British had judiciously chosen their ground 
among the deep ravines which intersected an extensive plain, 
and discharged a heavy and galling fire on the advancing 
columns of the Americans. At this time a detachment under 
Colonel Cowles from the first brigade entered the field, and 
being directed to attack the British left flank, bravely and 
promptly executed the order. The brigade first engaged 
had now expended their ammunition, and were ordered to 
retire; this so disconcerted the line as to render it necessary 
that the whole should fall back. The infantry retired to their 
boats in good order, and re-embarked ; the cavalry, with five 
pieces of artillery, proceeded_^down the river on the Canadian 
shore without further moleslatioif. General Covington re- 
ceived a mortal wound in the body while leading his men to 
the charge, and /bl'l on the field. The American loss was 



•\iil3. HISTORY OF THE LAl^i WAR. 25^ 

one hundred and two killed, and one hundred and thirty-seven 
wounded. Sixteen hundred Americans, and about an equal 
iunnber of British were engaged. The victory was claimed 
by both the combatants ; the British, on the ground that tkey 
had compelled the Americans to retreat and re-embark with 
the loss of a part of their artillery. General Wilkinson claimed 
the result to be in lavour of his troops, as the British were 
prevented Irom any further annoyance of the expedition. 
On the I2th, the flotilla passed the Long Sault without injury, 
and joinedGeneral Brown, at Barnhart's, near Cornwall. Gen- 
eral Wilkinson now considered the most difficult part of the 
expedition accomplished, and waited in momentary expecta- 
tion of hearing of General Hampton's arrival on the St. Law- 
rence, when with their united forces they should proceed to 
accomplish the great object of the campaign. On entering 
Canada on the 6th of November, the commanding general, 
according to custom , had issued a proclamation, addressed to 
its inhabitants, informing them that the army of the United 
States which he had the honour to command, invaded their 
provinces to conquer, and not to destroy ; to subdue the forces 
of his Britannic Majesty, not to war against his unoffending 
subjects ; that those who quietly remained at home, should be 
protected in their persons and property, but those found in 
arms must necessarily be treated as enemies. To menace, 
the general remarked, was unjust ; to seduce, dishonourable ; 
but it was both just and humane to place these alternatives 
before them ! 

Correspondence between Wilkinson and Hampton. On the 
same day General Wilkinson wrote to General Hampton, in- 
forming him that he was then in the river, should pass Pres- 
cott that evening, proceed immediately to the Isle Perrot, 
bridge the narrow inner channel between that island and 
Montreal with his scows, and obtain a fool-hold on the island 
twenty-five miles above the city, after which his artillery and 
bayonets must secure a triumph or provide honourable graves. 
Alter giving him this information, he ordered him to foitn an 



260 HISTORY OF IHE LATE WAK. Chai-. Izi. 

immediate jutictiuti with his whole force. On the 12lhan 
express arrived from General Hampton, slating that on re- 
ceiving his communication of the Gth, he was deeply impress- 
ed with the responsibihty of deciding on the means of co- 
operation ; that the idea of ellecting a junction at St. Regis, 
was the most pleasing, as being the most immediate, until he 
came to the disclosure of the state of General Wilkinson's 
provisions ; his communication further staled that his own 
men had not more with them than they could carry on their 
backs; that the road was in many jiiaces blockaded, and 
abattcd, and impassible for wheel carriages in the winter ; 
that the enemy had destroyed every thing in his advance 
which could contribute to the sujiport of the army ; that his 
troops were raw, sickly, and dispirited, and had endured fa- 
tigues equal to a winter's canijiaign : that in forming the 
proposed junction under such circumstances, he should weak- 
en rather than strengthen the main body. He had therefore 
determined to fall back on his main dejiot at Plattsburgh, 
keep open a communication with the St. Lawrence, and in 
this way coniril)nte to the success of the main object. 

Expedition abandoned. However sanguine the expectations 
of the secretory at war and the commander in chief might 
have been as lo the success of this expedition, the conduct 
of General Hampton entirely frustrated them. Unsupport- 
ed by this divisioii, General Wilkinson deemed it imprudent 
to proceed further ; on the receij)t of this communication he 
called a council of his general and field officers, and in 
pursuance of their advice, abandoned the expedition. On 
the 13th, the troops under General Brown embarked from the 
Canadian shore, and the whole army went into cantonements 
at French Milk'', on Salmon river, on the right bank of the St. 
Lawrence. 

■General Hampton'' s Division. The army under General 
Hampton, and a large depot of provisions and miUtary stores 
had been collected at Plattsburgh, for the express purpose 
#f co-QperaLing upoti Monti-eal. On the 19th of September. 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATK WAR. 261 

the army was pul in motion with a view to approach the 
banks of the St. Lawrence. The route first attempted was 
by way of Champlain to Coghnawaga on the St. Lawrence. 
For this pnrpose the army embarked on board batteaux, pre- 
ceded by a corps of light infantry, and Hanked on the right 
by the squadron on the lake, and advanced as far as Cham- 
plain. Here they landed and marct'.ed to Odletown, where 
they learned that the drought was such, that no water could 
be obtained on thai route; and the army, in consequence 
thereof, was obliged to return to Chazy, and take the route by 
Chateangay. On the 25th of September, the army encamped 
thirty miles in advance of Plattsburgh, and about the same 
distance* from the St. Lawrence, on the Chateangay river, 
which communicates with the St. Lawrence near Montreal, 
and remained on this ground until the 2 1st of October. 

From his head-quarters at this place on tlie 4th of October, 
the general writes to the secretary 'ei war, that the road be- 
tween him and Plattsburgh was a perfect turnpike, that he had 
and could have, an unlimited supply of good beef cattle, and 
that the quartermaster general would arrive in the course of 
three or four days, with a supply of flour and ammunition. 
On the morning of the 21st of October, the army commenced 
a movement down the Chateangay. An extensive Avood often 
or twelve miles in front, blocked up with felled timber, and 
covered by the Indians and British light troops, impeded the 
progress of the army. General Izard was detached with the 
light troops and one regiment of the line to turn these impedi- 
ments in flank, and seize on the open country below, while 
the army, preceded by a working party, advanced in a more 
circuitous, but practicable route ; the measure succeeded, 
and the main body reached the advanced position on the 
Chateaugay on the evening of the 22d. The 23d and 24th 
were employed in getting up the artillery and stores. There 
was now in front of the army seven miles of open country, 
at the end of which commenced a wood of some miles in ex- 
lent, which had been formed into an entire abattis, filled 



26i HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 12. 

with a suucession of wooden breastworks, the rearmost of 
which, was supphed wiili ordnance. The Indians and light 
troops were placed in front, arid a heavy force in the rear. 
On the evening of the 25th, Colonel Purdy, with the ligh 
troops, was detached to gain the rear of this position, 
while General Izard made a simultaneous attack in front. 
Colonel Purdy was misled by his guides, the attempt failed, 
and the advanced corps retired with the loss of fifty 
killed, wounded, and missing, to a position three miles in 
the rear. On the 28th, General Hampton, under an impres- 
sion that Sir George Prevost might be in the way of his fur- 
ther advance, fell back to his former position at the Chateaugay 
four corners. On the 8th November, he despatched Colonel 
Atkinson to General Wilkinson, informing him that he should 
not attempt the proposed junction, and immediately conducted 
his army back to Plattsburgh, for Avinter-quarters. 

Vermont Militia. To guard Plattsburgh while General 
Hampton was performing these operations, the third brigade 
of Vermont militia had been ordered by the secretary at war 
to that point, and placed under the command of an officer of 
the United States. This order was executed without the in- 
tervention of the captain general of the Vermont militia. 
Governor Chittenden, viewing this as a violation of his con- 
stitutional rights over the militia, on the 10th of November 
issued a proclamation declaring the proceeding illegal, and 
ordering the militia immediately to return and hold themselves 
in readiness for the defence of the state, subject to his orders. 
General Davis, who was despatched to Plattsburgh with the 
governor's orders, was arrested by the commandant, held for 
some time as a prisoner, and prevented from executing his 
commission. On the 15th of November, twenty-two of the 
officers of the brigade published an address to the governor 
ill answer to his proclamation, declaring it to be illegal, and 
manifesting their determination to disregard it. The brigade 
vcmained on duty at Plattsburgh until the return of General 
Hampton rendered their further services unnecessary. 



1313. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 263' 

On mustering General Wilkinson's army at the French 
Mills, on the 1st of December, its eliectives amounted to eight 
thousand ; General Hampton's to four thousand. The British 
forces at Montreal, Prescott, and Kingston, did not exceed 
six thousand. General Wilkinson states, that on the 4th of 
November, when he was within six days' march of the city, 
the garrison at Montreal did not exceed six hundred men ; 
but this doubtless was greatly underrating their force. 

General Hampton, having placed his army in winter-quar- 
ters and at Pittsburgh, and furloughed most of his effective 
officers, retired to the south. At New- York he accidentally 
met General Harrison at the same hotel, on his way from the 
north to the seat of government. General Hampton, with 
his servants and suite, appeared in the style and character of 
a nobleman. The hero of the west was in a plain republi- 
can style, with a single servant, and not distinguished in 
his appearance from the other guests. As soon as General 
Harrison's arrival was known, the citizens assembled and 
made an elegant entertainment on the succeeding day, at 
which, he received the compliments and respects due to his 
achievements. General Hampton and his suite remained in 
the city, and at the same hotel, unnoticed and uninvited. 
Public sentiment readily distinguished between the conquering 
hero, and the general who by his inactivity and disobedience 
of orders, had defeated an important expedition. The same 
marked distinction between the two generals took place at 
Philadelphia and Washington. 

No event could have more disappointed the public expec- 
tation, than the abandonment of the Montreal expedition. 
The regular troops had been withdrawn from the sea-board, 
and the Niagara frontier left uncovered, while the whole en- 
ergies of the campaign were concentrated in this object. 
To ehsure success. General Wilkinson had been called from 
an important command in the south to supersede General 
Dearborn in the chief command. Generals Lewis, Hampton, 
Hoyd, Brown, Izard, Covington, and Swartwout, were all 



264 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. (2 

engaged to gather laurels in this field. Every exertion ha<l 
been made to place the navy on the lake in a situation to 
command its navigation and further the operations of the ar- 
my ; large vessels had been built from the keel, equipped, and 
put into service in a few weeks ; and three hundred transport 
boats had been prepared for die descent of the St. Lawrence, 
and on the 6th of November the entrance of that river was 
covered for the distance of five miles with this formidable 
flotilla. The war department had been removed from the 
seat of government to Sackett's Harbour, that this important 
expedition might be under the immediate direction of the ex- 
ecutive. From the speeches in congress of the preceding 
winter, on the subject of the Canadian conquest, and from 
the great preparations which had been making through the 
season, all doubts respecting the final result had been re- 
moved; and in proportion as the public expectation had been 
raised by these prei)arations, in the same proportion was the 
disappointment when this formidable armament was seen to 
proceed within two days' march of its object, and then aban- 
don it without an etfort. The principal agents endeavoured to 
throw the blame on each other; public opinion determined that 
they must share it between them, and in this manner greatly 
lightened its burthen. Several of them, however, lost the 
public confidence, and were soon afterwards excused from 
further service. 

Cannes of the failure of the Montreal Expedition. Among 
others of less consequence the following may be assign- 
ed as the principal causes of the failure. Early in the 
reason, under the administration of General Dearborn, die 
public stores at Sackett's Harbour, the sinews of the cam- 
paign, were injudiciously exposed and lost, and the only op- 
portune season for the expedition wasted in useless and inef- 
ficient operations on the Niagara frontier. From the 20th of 
August, the period when General Wilkinson assumed the 
command, seventy-six days were suffered to elapse before 
theJSnal sailing of the flotilla. Thii delay, as it enabled the 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 265 

enemy to strengthen their posts on the river, and prepare for 
defence, and as it rendered the descent of the St. Lawrence at 
so late a period difficult, very much hazarded the success of the 
enterprise. Changing the commander in chief at a critical 
period of the campaign, without acquiring any additional tal- 
ents, had an unfavourable inllucnce upon its result. The es- 
tablishmeni of the war department at Sackett's Harbour, 
a measure in itself unusual, and very questionable as to its le- 
gality, was attended with no beneficial consequences to the 
expedition. The appropriate duties of that office are, to re- 
ceive from the supreme executive his orders, which, in affairs 
of importance, proceed from the united wisdom of the cabinet, 
and transmit them for execution to the commanding generals. 
His office gives the secretary no command in the army. In 
the present case, the important and hazardous measure of 
proceeding against Montreal, leaving the strongly fortified 
posts of the enemy at Kingston and,Prescott in the rear, was 
taken in pursuance of his advice, without the aid of the Pres- 
ident or the cabinet, and contrary to the opinion of the com- 
mander in chief. No justifiable or even palliative excuse has 
ever been rendered for General Hampton's refusing to join 
the expedition on the St. Lawrence. In a country abounding 
with provisions and the means of transportation, there could 
be no difficulty in effecting a movement of sixty miles in the 
course of the autumn. His fears of meeting Sir George 
Prevost in his march were probably groundless, and if the 
enemy had come out in force to attack him from Montreal, it 
would of course have left that city unguarded, and ensured 
the success of the ultimate object. From this combination 
of injudicious and inefficient measures, the campaign of 1813 
closed without effecting the capture of Montreal. 

Defenceless situation of Fort George, Previous to General 
Wilkinson'sleavingfort George, General M'Clure had beenor- 
dcred in with the New- York militia for the defence of the Nia- 
gara frontier. The British were then in considerable force in 
the neighbourhood. General M'Clure strongly urged the expe- 

34 



^Q MISTOKY OF TliE LAI E W All. Chaj-. &■ 

diency of a joint attack by the militia and regular forces, be- 
fore the latter proceeded on the Montreal expedition. Suc- 
cess was considered as certain. The frontier would then be 
safe, and the fears of the neighbouring inhabitants quieted. 
In the opinion of General Wilkinson, the advanced state of 
the season did not admit of the delay necessary for that ob- 
jecL He left fort George on the 2d of October, with all the 
United States troops, except eight hundred under the com- 
mand of Colonel Scott, and with orders for these to follov? as 
soon as the safety of that frontier would admit. On the 12lh 
of October, the British troops near fort George commenced a 
retrograde movement towards the head of the lake, and estab- 
lished themselves at Burhngton heights ; General M'Clure 
with the militia, commenced a pursuit: on the 2d day of his- 
march, he received an express from Colonel Scott, informing 
bim that he should immediately leave fort George for Sack- 
ett's Harbour; this intelligence obliged him to relinquish the 
pursuit, arid return for the defence of the fort. General 
M'Clurc's force at this lime, consisted of one thousand mihtia 
engaged until the 9th of December, and two hundred and 
fifty Indians. The general used every exertion ro strike a 
blow at the enemy before the term of service of his militia 
should expire. On the first of November, General Harrison 
arrived at fort George, with M'Arthur's brigade from the 
west. Immediately on receiving intelligence of Proctor's 
defeat, the secretaiy at war ordered General Harrison, with 
all his disposable force, to proceed to Sackett's Harbour, to 
^oin in the grand expedition. On his arrival at fort George, 
General M'Clure used every exertion to accomplish an expe- 
dition against the British at Burlington, during the stay of this 
brigade at the fort. But General Harrison's orders were 
peremptory ; Chauncey was in the river waiting for him, and 
the lateness of the season admitted of no delay. 

Evacuation. The troops from the west embarked on the 
l6th of November, and again left the Niagara frontier to the 
sief«nce ©f tii,e mihtia. Th<jir tertps of service were now 



I«13, HISTORY OF THE LiTE WAR, 2S7 

nearly expiring, and the British were in the neighbourhood 
waiting for that event to make an attack. Every inducement 
was held out to the militia to prolong their term of service, 
until others should arrive. Appeals to their patriotism and 
humanity were made, from a view of the exposed situation 
of the frontier ; and to their interest, from the offer of a bounty 
and an increase of wages. But these appeals were made in 
vain ; scarcely a man renewed his engagements ; the new 
drafts had not yet arrived; and on the 10th of December, 
General M'Clure found himself at fort George with only 
sixty effective men, in view of a much superior enemy, per- 
fectly acquainted with his weakness. No alternative pre- 
sented, but the immediate evacuation of the fort. 

Burning of Newark. On the 10th of December, the val- 
uable stores were transported across the river to fort Niagara, 
fort George blown up, and the adjacent village of Newark 
burned. This last act was considered as an unnecessary 
and wanton piece of cruelty. General M'Clure justified 
himself under the following order from the war department, 
during its establishment at Sackett's Harbour. 

" War Department, October 4, 181^. 
« Sir, 

" Understanding that the defence of the post commmit- 
ted to your charge may render it proper to destroy the town 
of Newark, you are hereby directed to apprise the inhabit- 
ants of this circumstance, and invite them to remove them- 
selves and their effects to some place of greater safety. 

"JOHN ARMSTRONG, 

" Brigadier General M'Clure, 
" or oflScer commaadiDg^ at fort George 



A 



No event more disreputable to the American cause, or more 
injurious in its consequences, could have happened. Five 
hundred innocent and peaceful inhabitants were in a moment 
rendered houseless, and compelled, in the midst of a Cana- 
dian winter, to seek a shelter and subsistence from the charitv 



268 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. 12- 

of their friends. Whci-ever these unhappy sufferers wandered, 
the eye droptatcarof pity over their misfortunes, and the coun- 
tenance hghtened with ihe fire of revenge against the authors 
of their calamity. Whatever friends or advocates the cause of 
the United States might have had in Canada before this 
event, it b.ad none afterwards. The only ground of justifi- 
cation ever assumed, was that it was a necessary measure ol 
defence, to prevent the British army from finding a shelter 
during the winter, on the borders of the river, whence they 
might annoy the inhabitants on the right bank. But this 
object could not be obtained as long as Queenston and the 
settlements above were suffered to remain. This measure 
induced a most heavy and calamitous retaliation, and was 
made use of by the British to justify all their wanton acts of 
cruelty, during the war, whether before or after the event. 
Much altercation took place upon the question, who should 
bear the odium of this transaction. The secretary of state, 
unacquainted with the transactions of the war department, 
during its absence from the seat of government, disavowed 
the act to the British authorities, and declared it to be an 
unauthorized measure of the commanding general. M'Clurc 
considered himself as fully justified by Armstrong's letter, 
while the latter claimed, that the letter was only a conditional 
authority, and that the case in which it was to be exercised 
had not occurred. It is evident from the letter, that the 
scheme of burning Newark originated with the war depart- 
ment; and it cannot be denied, that an authority issuing from 
that source to the commanding general on a particular sta- 
tion, and by him executed, cannot be disavowed to the 
enemy ; they have a right to consider it as the act of the 
government, although, as in this case, it was unknown to the 
President until after the event. The letter likewise proves 
that it was discretionary with General M'Clure to do it, or not, 
as his judgment should direct; the facts clearly show, that no 
good, but much evil and dishonour resulted to the United 
States from the transaction; and that it was an injudicious 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 269 

exercise of a discretionary authority, improperly given by 
the war department, during its unfortunate excursion to Sack- 
ett's Harbour. 

Capture of Fort Niagara. General M'Clure on the 10th 
of December, passed over to Niagara, gave the necessary 
instructions for the defence of that post, and retired to Buffalo. 
On the 18th he issued an address to the neighbouring inhab- 
itants, calling upon them to assemble for the defence of fort 
Niagara, and stating that he had received mformation that it 
would be attacked the next day. The general remained at 
Buffalo ; and the inhabitants seeing no example set them by 
the author of the address, remained at home. The garrison 
at Niagara consisted of 370 regulars, under the command of 
Captain Leonard. At three o'clock in the morning of the 
19th the British and Indians, after several days' preparation 
in viewof the Americans, crossed the river at the Five Miles 
Meadows, to the amount of twelve hundred ; and a detach- 
ment, under Colonel Murray, proceeded to attack the fort. 

Notwithstanding appearances had for some days past 
clearly indicated the object of attack, the commanding general 
Mas at Buffalo, secure in his quarters, thirty miles from the 
scene of action, the immediate command of the fort being left 
in charge of a man wholly incompetent, who at this critical 
moment, had gone to his residence three miles in the rear, 
the gates of the fort left open, and unguarded, and the garri- 
son wholly unprepared ; the result was as might be expected, 
the garrison was completely surprised ; sixty-five killed, many 
of them after they had surrendered, and the residue made 
prisoners ; twenty-seven pieces of ordnance, and large quan- 
tities of ammunition and military stores, taken. 

Desolation of the Niagara Frontier. At the same time 
another detachment of the British proceeded to Lewis- 
town, which was taken without opposition, and the in- 
habitants put to flight. The Indians now plundered, 
burned, and massacred without restraint. The towns of 
Niagara and Lewistown, and the village of friendly Indians. 



2te HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1^. 

at Tuscarora, were laid in ashes. Governor Tompkins, 
on being informed of the removal of the regular troops from 
the Niagara frontier, on the 27th of November, gave orders 
for the assembling of sufficient bodies of militia to supply the 
places of those under General M'Clure. But owing to the 
delays incident to such operations, they failed of arriving 
until after the capture of Niagara, and the destruction of the 
frontier below the falls. On the 26th of December, General 
Hall, commanding the western division of militia, had assem- 
bled at Buffalo and Black-Rock, two thousand of his division. 
On the night of the 29tli, at 12 o'clock, the enemy were dis- 
covered approaching the American shore, near those places 
in great force. The militia were ordered out to oppose their 
landing, but the main body iled at the approach of the enemy, 
without firing a gun. Colonel Blackesley's regiment, with 
other detached corps, amounting in the whole to six hundred, 
regularly formed in line, and commenced a destructive fire on 
the enemy, as they approached the shore. They continued 
the contest until their associates had all fled, and further op- 
position appeared useless. The flourishing villages of Black 
Rock and Buftalo, and the neighbouring settlements were 
deserted, and fell a prey to the British and Indians. General 
Hall retired with the remains of his dispersed militia, to 
Eleven Mile creek, where he was able to collect only about 
three hundred; with these he preserved a show of resistance, 
to cover the flying inhabitants, and check the advances of 
the enemy. All the flourishing villages and settlements on 
the Niagara, between the lakes, and to a considerable dis- 
tance in the rear were laid in ashes; the Indians were let loose 
upon the flying inhabitants, and hundreds of them were over- 
taken and massacred. The frontier presented one scene of 
universal desolation.* The miserable inhabitants who es- 
caped the Indian tomahawk, fled to the interior, without shelter 
or means of support, in the depth of winter, and subsisted on 

• General Hall's letter to Governor Tompkas, Jannary 6, 1814* 



1813. mSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 07 1 

the charity of their friends. More than two hundred houses, 
with an immense value of property, were pillaged and de- 
stroyed, and the wretched inhabitants and owners reduced to 
poverty. General Hall retired to Batavia, fifty miles in the 
rear of Niagara, where he was enabled to collect eighteen 
hundred militia for .the protection of the pubhc stores, and the 
defence of those settlements which had escaped desolation. 

Prevosfs Proclamation. At length even the humanity of 
Governor Prevost began to relent, and on the 12th of Jan- 
uary 1814, he issued a proclamation, stating, "That it will 
hardly be credited by those who shall hereafter read it in the 
page of history, that in the enlightened era of the 19th cen- 
tury, and in the inclemency of a Canadian winter, the troops 
of a nation, calling itself civihzed and Christian, had wantonly, 
and without a shadow of a pretext, forced four hundred 
women and children to quit their dwellings, and to be the 
mournful spectators of the conflagration of all that belonged 
to them. Yet such was the fate of Newark, on the 10th of 
December, a day which the inhabitants of Upper Canada can 
never forget, and the recollection of which cannot but nerve 
their arms, when opposed to their vindictive foe. On the 
night of that day, the American troops, under Brigadier Gen- 
eral M'Ciure, being about to evacuate fort George, which they 
could no longer retain, by an act of inhumanity disgraceful to 
themselves, and to the nation to which they belong, set fire to 
upwards of one hundred and fifty houses, composing the beau- 
tiful village of Newark, and burning them to the ground, 
leaving without covering or shelter, those innocent, unfortu- 
nate, and distressed inhabitants, whom that officer by his 
proclamation had engaged to protect. His Excellency would 
have ill-consulted the honour of his country, and the justice 
due to his Majesty's injured and insulted subjects, had he 
permitted an act of such needless cruelty to pass unpunished, 
or had he failed to visit whenever the opportunity arrived, 
upon the inhabitants of the neighbouring American frontier, 
the calamities thus iftflicled on their own. The opportunity 



272 HlSIOilY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. li. 

has occurred, and a full measure of retaliation has taken 
place ; such as it is hoped will teach the enemy to respect in 
future the laws of war, and recall him to a sense of what is 
due to himself, as well as to us. In the further prosecution of 
the contest to which so extraordinary a character has been 
given, his Excellency must be guided by the course of con- 
duct which the enemy shall hereafter pursue. Lamenting the 
necessity imposed upon him, of retaliating upon the subjects 
of America the miseries inflicted on the inhabitants of New- 
ark, it is not his intention to pursue further a system of warfare 
so revolting to his own feelings, and so little congenial to the 
British charaeter, unless the future measures of the enemy 
should compel him to resort to it. To those possessions of 
the enemy along the whole line of frontier which have hith- 
erto remained undisturbed, and which are now at the mercy 
of the troops under his command, his Excellency has deter- 
mined to extend the same forbearance, and the same freedom 
from rapine and plunder which they have hitherto experi- 
enced; and from this determination, the future conduct of the 
American government shall alone induce him to depart." 

The scene of conflagration here terminated ; neither party 
seemed disposed to renew a course of warfare which tended 
only to the destruction of unoffending individuals. The burn- 
ing of Newark, it was readily foreseen, would induce such a 
system of retaliation as has been described, and expose the 
unprotected American frontier to destruction. It excited a 
high degree of indignation against the commanding general. 
He apprehended himself to have been shot at several times at 
Buffalo, and retired to Batavia to avoid the resentment of the 
frontier inhabitants. 



CHAPTER XIIL 

3^residential Election. — Inaugural Address. — Meeting of the 13tk Ce«' 
gress. — Message. — Treasury Report. — Report of Committee of Ways 
«nd Means. — Direct Taxes and Internal Duties. — Mr. Webster's 
Resolutions on the suppression of the French Decree of 28th 
of April, 1811 ; Report of the Secretary of State thereon. — Report of 
the Committee of Foreign Relations. — Massachusetts' Remonstrance 
against the War. — British Licenses prohibited. — Report of the Com- 
mittee on British Outrages. — Retahation. — British Claim of JVatural 
Allegiance. — American Claim. — Proceedings with Prisoners. — Report 
of the Secretarj of State on Allegiance. — Second Session of the 13th 
Congress. — Message. — Confidential Communication, recommendii\g 
an Embargo. — Report of Committee of Foreign Relations. — Embargo 
laid. — Message, and Report thereon, recommending the Repeal of 
the Embargo. — Treasury Report. — Expenditures for 1813. — Esti- 
mates for 1814. — Bounty increased. — Steam Frigate built — ^Loan 
Bill passed. — Close of the Session. 

Presidential Election, March 4th, 1813. The meeting of 
electors of President and Vice-President for the presidential 
term commencing the 4fh of March, 1813, was held in the 
several states agreeably to law, on the 1st Wednesday of 
December, 1812. De Witt Clinton, of New- York, was the 
candidate opposed to Mr. Madison; and was selected by the 
peace party, on the ground of his being opposed to the war, 
Mr. Madison united the votes of Vermont, New-Hampshire, 
Pennsylvania, and all the states south and west of Maryland. 
On the 10th of February, the two houses of Congress met in 
convention, and counted the votes ; when the result appeared 
to be one hundred and twenty-eight for Mr. Madison, and 
eighty-nine for Mr. Clinton. For Vice-President, one hun- 
dred and thirty-one for Mr. Gerry, and eighty-six for Mr. 
IngersoU. On the 4th of March, Mr. Madison was inducted 
into office with the usual ceremonies, when he delivered a 
speech to the citizens assembled on the occasion, in justifica'- 

35 



274 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. VJ. 

tion of the commencement, and continuance of the war ; con- 
trasting the humane manner in which it had been carried on 
by the United States, with the barbarities of the British and 
their Indian alUes ; at the same time assunng his fellow-citizens, 
that the spirit and resources of the country were amply suffi- 
cient to bring it to an honourable issue. 

Meeting of Congress, May '24th, 1813. In pursuance of a 
laAv of the last session, the 1 3th Congress convened on the 
24lh of May. In the choice of a speaker, the votes were 
for Mr. Clay, eighty-nir^ ; for Mr. Pitkin, the peace candi- 
date, fifty-four. 

Message. On the 25th, the President's message was commmu- 
nicated, stating that he had recently received a communication 
from the emperor of Russia, offering his mediation, as the com- 
mon friend of the United States and Great Britain, for the pur- 
pose of making peace between them. That this offer was imme- 
diately accepted on the part of the United States, and three 
envoys appointed, and commissioned with the requisite 
powers to conclude a treaty of peace with persons clothed 
with like powers on the part of Great Britain; and that the 
two envoys who were in the United States at the time of 
their appointment, had proceeded to join their colleague 
already at St. Petersburgh. That the envoys had already re- 
ceived another commission, authorizing them to conclude 
with the emperor of Russia a treaty of commerce with a view 
fo strengthen the amicable relations, and improve the benefi- 
cial intercourse between the two countries. That the senti- 
ments of Great Britain towards the emperor were such as 
would produce an acceptance of the mediation, might fairly be 
presumed. That no adequate motives could exist for her to 
prefer a continuance of the war to the terms on which the 
United States were willing to close it. The message further 
remarked, that the British cabinet must be sensible, that with 
respect to the important question of impressment on which 
the war so essentially turns, a search for, or seizure of 
British persons or property on board neutral vessels on the 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 275 

high seas, is not a belligerent right derived from the law of 
nations ; and that no visit, search, or use of force for any pur- 
pose, on board of vessels of one independent power, can be 
sanctioned by the laws or authority of another. It is equally 
obvious, that for the purpose of preserving to each state its 
sea-faring members, by excluding them from the vessels of 
the other, a mode heretofore proposed, and now enacted by 
the United States as a part of their municipal policy, cannot 
for a moment be compared with the mode practised by Great 
Britain, without a conviction of its preferences, in as much 
as the latter leaves the discrimination between the mariners 
of the two nations, to officers exposed to unavoidable bias, 
as well as from defect of evidence, to a wrong decision under 
circumstances precluding redress, and where a wrong de- 
cision, besides the irreparable violation of the rights of per- 
sons, might frustrate the plans and profits of entire voyages : 
whereas the mode adopted by the United States guards, with 
studied fairness and delicacy, against errors in such cases, 
and avoids the effect of casual errors on the safety of naviga- 
tion, and the success of mercantile enterprises. If the rea- 
sonableness of expectations drawn from these considerations 
could guarantee their fulfilment, a just peace could not be 
distant; but it becomes the wisdom of the national legislaturr. 
to keep in mind the true policy and indispensable obligation 
of adapting its measures to the principle that the only course 
to a safe and honourable peace, is the vigorous employ-=> 
ment of the resources of war. 

Treasury Estimates. The principal object of this session 
was to mature and bring into operation a system of internal 
duties, and direct taxes, for which there was not time the last. 
Such an additional revenue was deemed to be necessary, as 
would, with that already established, pay the ordinary ex- 
penses of government, discharge the redeemable portion of 
the public debt, and pay the interest on the war loans. Mr. 
Gallatin having been appointed one of the envoys on the 
Russian mediation, the treasury department was committed to 



i76 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. IS' 

Mr.. Jones, the secretary of the navy. On the second of 
June, the acting secretary of the treasury presented to the 
house of representatives a report on the state of the treasury j 
from which it appeared that the balance in the treasury, on 
the 30th of September, 1812, was !2,3G2,652 69 

Receipts at the treasury from that period to 

the 3 1 st of March 1013, were 1 .5,4 1 2,4 1 6 25 



17,775,068 94 



The issues from the treasury during the 

same period were 15,919,334 41 

Leaving a balance in the treasury on the 

Islof April, 1813, of ^1,855,734 5» 

The loan of sixteen millions, authorized by 
the act of the 8th of February, had been 
negotiated upon such terms, as that the 
United States had received eighty-eight 
dollars cash for one hundred dollars of 
their stock, bearing six per cent, interest. 
The resources for the residue of the year 
f813, were the balance of the loan of six- 
teen millions not yet received 14,913,26!3 

The customs and sale of public lands esti- 
mated at 9,320 

Treasury notes authorized to be issued un- 
der the act of the 25th of February, 1813 5,000,000 

29,330,000 
I'he expenses for the same period were esti- 
mated to be, for the civil list 900,000 
Payment on account of the public debt 10,510,000 
War and navy departments 17,820,000 



29,230,000 

The foregoing estimates wrrc calculated to reach the end 

of the year 1813. The secretary recommends an early and 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 277 

adequate provision for the service of 1814. He remarks, 
as reliance must be had upon loans for the future war ex- 
penses, the laying of the internal taxes must be considered 
with a view to that object as indispensable to facilitate the 
obtaining of the loan, and procuring it upon favourable terms. 
It had been satisfactorily ascertained, that the terms of the 
last loan would have been more favourable if the taxes had 
been previously laid. 

It is obvious that by affording a security for the regular 
payment of the interest, and eventual reimbursement of the 
principal, more stable and less liable to be weakened, and 
cut off by the effects of war, than a revenue depending, as 
that of the United States now almost wholly does, on exter- 
nal commerce, capitalists will advance with the greater readi- 
ness, and at a lower rate of interest, the funds necessary for 
the prosecution of the war. Public confidence will be en-^ 
sured, and the means afforded of preserving public credit 
unimpaired. The resources of the country are ample, and 
if the means now proposed, and those heretofore recom- 
mended from this department, are adopted, it is believed they 
may fully and fairly be brought into action. 

The committee of ways and means reported a direct tax 
of three millions on fixed property; and the same system of 
internal revenue which had been brought forward, and nearly 
matured the last session. It embraced duties on distilleries, 
refined sugars, retailers' licenses, sales at auction, carriages, 
and negotiable paper, estimated to raise two millions, a duty 
of twenty cents a bushel on salt, estimated to raise $400,000, 
and an additional tonnage duty on foreign vessels, estimated 
at $900,000. As this system had been thoroughly canvassed 
the last session, and the necessity of an additional revenue, 
was becoming every day more and more apparent, it waa 
adopted, and the necessary laws passed to give it effect, with 
very litde debate or opposition. A further loan of $ 7,500,000, 
was also authorized. 



278 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13, 

Mr. Webster'' s Resolutions. On the 10th of June, Mr. Web- 
ster offered for consideration several resolutions, calling on 
the executive for information — 

When, by whom, and in what manner, the first intelligence 
was given to the American government of the French decree 
of the 28th of April, 1811, purporting to be a definitive re- 
peal of the Berlin and Milan decrees ? 

Whether Mr. Russell, the late charge des affaires at the 
court of France, ever admitted or denied the correctness of 
the statement of the duke of Bassano, that this decree had 
been communicated to Mr. Barlow's predecessor? 

Whether the French minister at Washington had ever in- 
formed the American government of the existence of such a 
decree ? 

And whether any explanation had been given by the French 
government ; why the decree had been concealed, together 
•with any other information relative to the subject, not im- 
proper to be communicated. 

These resolutions formed a principal topic of debate from 
the 10th to the 21st of June, when the question was taken 
upon them, and they passed, yeas 137, nays 26. 

Report of the Secretary of State. On the 13th of July, 
the secretary of state reported upon the subject of these in- 
quiries. That the first intelligence which the American gov- 
ernment received of the decree of the 28th of April, 1811, 
was communicated in a letter from Mr. Barlow, bearing date 
the 12th of May, and received the 13th of July, 1812. That 
the first intimation of the existence of that decree was given 
to Mr. Barlow by the duke of Bassano, in an informal con- 
versation, sometime between the 1st and 10th of May, 1812, 
and formally communicated to him on the 10th. That Mr. 
Barlow transmitted a copy of the decree, and the duke of 
Bassano's letter of the 12th of May, in which he also inform- 
ed Mr. Russell, that the duke of Bassano stated to him, that 
the decree had been duly communicated to Mr. Russell, then 
charge des affaires at France, at its date. 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ^79 

Mr, Russell replied to Mr. Barlow's letter, slating that the 
first knowledge he had of the decree, was derived from his 
letter of the 1 1th of May. The secretary further stated, thatno 
communication of the decree was ever made to the American 
government by the French minister, and no explanation given 
why the decree was not published, and communicated to the 
American government at its date. The minister of France had 
been asked to explain the cause of a proceeding so extraor- 
dinary, and exceptionable ; to which he replied, that his first 
intelligence of that decree was received by the Wasp, in a 
letter from the duke of Bassano, of the 10th of May, 1812 ; 
in which the duke expressed his surprise, that a prior letter 
of May 1811, in which he transmitted to him a copy of the 
decree for the information of the American government, had 
not been received. The light in which this transaction was 
viewed by the President, had been noticed by him in his 
message to Congress, and communicated to Mr. Barlow, in a 
letter of the 14th of July, with a view to the requisite infor- 
mation from the French government. Before the reception 
of that letter, the emperor and the duke of Bassano had 
left Paris for the north. Mr. Barlow died before any expla- 
nations had been given ; and his successor, recently appointed, 
has been instructed to demand the necessary explanation. 

After answering the questions proposed by the resolutions, 
the secretary entered into an elaborate discussion, tending to 
show that the repeal of the British orders in council was 
owing to other causes than the repeal of the French decrees 
and was not to be ascribed to that of the 28th of April, 1811. 
That in professedlymaking that decree the basis of their repeal, 
the British government had conceded that they ought to have 
repealed them on the ground of the declaration of the French 
government of the 5th of August, 181Q, so as to take effect 
on the 1st of the following November; and by failing so t<5 
do, were justly chargeable with all the consequences of the 
war. That the final repeal of the orders in council was to be 



(280 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1^, 

ascribed to the pressure which the restrictive system of the 
American government brought upon the British nation.* 

Accompanying the report, was the correspondence between 
the American and French governments, conjfirming the state- 
ments it contained. 

The committee of foreign relations, to whom the subject 
was referred, without adverting to the concealment of the de- 
cree by the French government, from the 28th of April, 1811, 
to the 10th of May, 1812, and the false declaration, that it 
was communicated to Mr. Russell at its date, remark : That 
the secretary's report, and the accompanying documents 
furnish strong additional proof of the justice and necessity of 
the war, and powerful motives for the steady and vigorous 
prosecution of it, as the surest means of a safe and honoura- 
ble peace. That it can now no longer be doubted, that it 
was the pressure of the restrictive measures, combined with 
the determination of Congress, to redress their wrongs by 
a-rms, and not the repeal of the French decrees, that broke down 
the British orders in council, and destroyed that dangerous 
system of monopoly, by which America was, in fact, as to her 
commerce, re-colonized. Their report concludes with a re- 
solution, declaring that the conduct of the executive, in relation 
to the subjects referred to, meets the approbation of the house. 

Massachusetts Remonstrance. On the 19th of June, Mr. 
Pickering presented a remonstrance from the legislature 
of Massachusetts, condemning in strong and pointed lan- 
guage the war, as impolitic and unjust. They state that of 
the two hundred and fifteen millions derived by the United 
States, under the operation of the federal constitution, Mas- 
sachusetts had paid more than forty millions, or about one 
fifth part into the national treasury. That if this sum had 
been preserved to her, she would have been fully compe- 
tent to her own defence. That she possesses a sea-coast 
more extensive and populous than any other state in the union ; 
aod an extensive land frontier, now wholly abandoned by the 

■ RPportof the secretary of state, Julr lf5I3. 



1813. 



HISTORY OF THE LATE WiVR. 



281 



government, whose duty it was to protect her. That the pol- 
icy adopted by the general government, had brought the good 
people of that commonwealth to the verge of ruin ; had an- 
nihilated that eomnjerce so essential to her prosperity, increas- 
ed their burdens while it diminished their means of support; 
provided for the establishment of an immense standing army, 
dangerous to their liberties and irreconcileable with the gen- 
ius of their constitution ; destroyed their just and constitution- 
al weight in the general government; and, by involving them 
in a disastrous war, had placed in the power of the enemy, 
the control of the fisheries, a treasure of more value to the 
country than all the territories for which they are contending, 
and which furnish the only means of subsistence for thousands 
of her citizens, and the great nursery of her seamen, and 
the right to which cannot be be abandoned by New Eng- 
land. 

The remonstrance concludes, by earnestly requesting, that 
measures may be immediately adopted to stay the sword 
of the destroyer, and prevent the further effusion of human 
blood : that the invading armies may be forthwith recalled 
within our own territories, and that every effort of our rulers 
may be directed to the attainment of a just and honourable 
peace : that mutual confidence and commercial prosperity 
may be again restored to our distracted and suffering country ; 
and that by an upright and faithful administration of the gov- 
ernment, in the true spirit of the constitution, its blessings 
may be equally diffused to every part of the union. The re- 
monstrance was read, ordered to lie on the table, and contin- 
ued to the next session. 

British Licenses. For th« purpose of procuring a supply 
of provisions for the British West Indies, and the combined 
armies in Spain, the naval officers commanding the Ameri- 
can stations, had been directed by an order of council soon 
after the commencement of the war, to grant licenses to mer- 
chant vessels of the United States, laden with provisions, and 
bound to those places. These licenses protected them fron? 

3C 



282 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. t2. 

British capture on their outward and return voyages. By 
means of them, a brisk and lucrative trade was carried on ; 
those places in a great measure relieved from the pressure of 
the war ; supplies obtained for the British army and navy, and 
British merchandise introduced into the United States. Ves- 
sels sailing under these licenses, had been taken by Ameri- 
can privateers, brought in and libelled ; the prize courts 
cleared them, on the ground that such trade was not prohibit- 
ed by law. 

Such a commerce was evidently inadmissible. It tended' 
to frustrate some of the principal objects of the war. An 
act was passed this session, forbidding all persons from ob- 
taining, using or selling such licenses, on penalty of forfeiting 
twice the value of the vessel and cargo to be protected there- 
by, and a fine of five thousand dollars. Any vessel found 
saihng under such license, was to be considered as sailing 
under the British flag, and liable to be proceeded against as 
lawful prize. 

On application of the owners of privateers, the duties on 
prize goods were reduced to one third less than what were 
payable on goods imported in any other manner. 

Report of the Committee on the manner in which the War 
had been conducted. In the early part of the session, a com- 
mittee was appointed upon that part of the President's mes- 
sage which related to the spirit and manner in which the war 
had been waged by the enemy. On the 31st of July, Mr, 
Macon, from that committee, reported, that they had collect- 
ed, and arranged, all the testimony that was in their power to 
obtain, under the following heads : — 

1st. Bad treatment of American prisoners. 

2d. Detention of American prisoners as British subjects, 
on the plea of nativity in the dominions of Great Britain, or 
of naturalization. 

3d. Detention of mariners as prisoners of war, who were 
ill England when the war was declared. 



i«l3. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 283 

4th. Compulsory service of impressed American seamen 
On board of British ships of war. 
5th. Violation of flags of truce. 

6th. Ransom of American prisoners from Indians in the 
British service. 

7th. Pillage, and destruction of private property, on the, 
Chesapeake bay, and in the neighbouring country. 

8th. Massacre and burning of American prisoners, surren- 
dered to officers of Great Britain, by Indians in the British 
service. Abandonment of the remains of Americans, killeJ 
in battle, or murdered after the surrender to the British ; the 
pillage and shooting of American citizens, and the burning of 
their houses, after the surrender to the British, under the 
guarantee of protection. 

9th» Outrages at Hampton. 

The evidence under the first head, the committee remark, 
demonstrates that the British government has adopted rigor- 
ous regulations, unfriendly to the comfort, and apparently un- 
necessary for the safe keejnng of American prisoners. 'It 
shows also, instances of a departure from the customary rules 
of war, by the selection and confinement, in close prisons, of 
particular persons, and the transportation of them for unde- 
fined causes, from the ports of the British colonies to the 
island of Great Britain. - . 

The evidence under the second head, establishes the fact, 
that however the fact of detaining American citizens or Bri- 
tish subjects, may be regarded, as to the principle it involves, 
that such detentions continue to occur, through the agency of 
the naval and other commanders of that government ; nmi 
that however unwilling to allow other nations to naturalize 
ber subjects, Great Britain is disposed to enforce the obliga- 
tion entered into by subjects naturalized under her laws. 

The evidence under the third head shows, that while all 
other American citizens were permitted to depart within a 
reasonable time after the declaration of war, all mariners 
who were in the dominions of Great Britain at that period, 



284 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chaj>. 13, 

whether they resorted to her ports in time of peace for law- 
ful purposes, or were forced into them, under pretence of il- 
legal commerce, are considered as prisoners of war. 

The testimony collected under the fourth head, proves it to 
be the ordinary practice of the officers of the British armed 
vessels, to force impressed Americans to serve against their 
country, by threats, corporal punishment, and the fear of 
immediate execution. 

The evidence under the other heads, embraced the outrages 
committed in the Chesapeake, and on the river Raisin, and 
clearly established the facts that have been related, as to 
those transactions. 

The whole testimony, thus collected and arranged, remain:^ 
on the records of Congress ; and the report concludes with a 
resolution, requesting the President to have collected and 
presented to Congress during the continuance of the war, evi- 
dence of any departure by the enemy, from the ordinary 
mode of conducting war among civilized nations. The next 
meeting of Congress was fixed on the first Monday of De- 
cember, and the session closed on the 2d of August. 

Natural Allegiance. — Queenston Prisoners. At the com- 
mencement of the war, a question arose on the subject of 
natural allegiance between the belligerents, which had well 
nigh proved fatal to the lives of all who were so unfortunate 
as to be made prisoners on either side. 

Among the Americans taken at the battle of Queenston, 
were twenty-three persons whom he British authorities claim- 
ed to have been born within their dominions ; they selected 
these, put them in close confinement, and sent them to Eng- 
lank to be tried for high treason^ On the part of Great 
Britain, it was claimed, that these persons were British born 
Subjects, taken on British territory, in arms against their 
sovereign ; that every person born within the king's domin- 
ions, whether original or colonial, owed a natural, unaliena- 
ble allegiance to the crown, which no circumstances, t'mes, 
or places, length of residence in foreign countries, or obliga- 



iB13. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 28^ 

tions contracted there, could dissolve. That this principle 
was recognised by all civilized nations, and was the univer- 
sal law of Europe. That however princes might permit 
their subjects to accept commissions, or engage in foreign 
service, it was always with the exce{)tion that they should 
not bear arms against their native sovereign, and generally 
with the Condition, that in case their own country should be 
engaged in war, they should return to its defence. That a 
subject could not, by being naturalized in a foreign country, 
dissolve his allegiance ; and that if, by contracting inconsistent 
obligations, he had subjected himself to inconveniences and 
hazards, he must abide the consequences. 

Expatriation^ The American government strongly remon- 
strated against the proceeding, and claimed that the persons 
in question were naturalized American citizens, and entitled 
to the same treatment as other prisoners of war. The ground 
taken by them was, that every person at his birth owed only 
a temporary allegiance to the country of his nativity, continu- 
ing only during his residence therein. That granting to a 
subject the liberty of emigrating and settling in other coun- 
tries, necessarily implied the liberty of changing his allegi- 
ance. No person could be under two obligations inconsistent 
with each other at the same time ; one or the other must 
necessarily be void* When therefore a nation freely per- 
mitted its subjects to emigrate, and settle in foreign countries, 
and received and naturalized foreigners at home, it necessa- 
rily implied a liberty to their emigrating subjects to change 
their allegiance. American citizens on board Bi'itish ships, 
and those resident in Canada holding lands under the crown, 
were required to bear arms against the United States. 

The difference between the two nations on this subject, 
arose in a great measure from the different structure of the 
governments. Great Britain and other monarchies were 
originally founded on the feudal principle, that all persons 
born within their territories were the vessals of the crown j 
and that the king had an interest, or species of property in 



2ge HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cjbap. 13. 

the persons, and a right to the services of his subjects. Upon 
this principle the European governments claimed and often 
exercised the right of prohibiting their subjects from leaving 
the realm, and ordering the return of such as had gone out. 
These doctrines were interwoven in their constitutions, and 
formed a part of their municipal code. While they affected 
none but the prince and his vassals or subjects, other nations 
had no ground of complaint, but when they were attempted 
to be enforced on the territory, or in the ships of another 
power, it became a manifest invasion of the rights and inde- 
pendence of that nation. The republics of the United States 
were founded upon the principle of an equality of rights 
among all the citizens, and a voluntary association for their 
mutual protection. That a person was not confined to the 
place of his birth, but was always at liberty to choose his 
residence in any country : that protection could be afforded 
only while the citizen remained within the jurisdiction that 
allegiance and protection were necessarily reciprocal, and 
co-extensive: that when a person removed out of the limits 
of his own government, and settled himself in another, pro- 
tection necessarily ceased and with it the corresponding ob- 
ligation of service, or allegiance. 

Retaliation. The remonstrances of the American govern- 
ment proving ineffectual, a system of retaliation was adopt- 
ed. Twenty-three British prisoners were selected and placed 
in close confinement, to abide the fate of the Queenston 
prisoners. Forty-six American officers were then taken and 
put in close confinement, to abide the fate of the twenty-three 
British soldiers. Forty-six British officers were then selected 
and confined for the purposes of retaliation. Sixteen prison- 
ers from American vessels were also selected, and put in close 
confinement at Halifax, for the purpose of being sent to Eng- 
land for trial, as being British born subjects. The same 
number of British seamen were taken by the Americans, and 
held as hostages. Forty-six other American officers were 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 337 

then taken, and closely confined, to abide the fate of the last 
forty-six British. A cartel agreed on between General Win^ 
der and Colonel Baynes, for the general exchange of prison- 
ers in Canada, was disapproved by the President, because it 
excepted from its provisions, the forty-six American officers 
first taken; and no exchange of prisoners could be made. 

Under the provision of the constitution which ordains, 
^' that the President shall from time to time give to the 
Congress information of the state of the union," the President 
communicated these facts to Congress ; and under the same 
provision, both houses had adopted the practice of requesting 
of the President information of any facts relating to the sub- 
jects of their deliberation. On this occasion the senate ex- 
tended the inquiry as to what the law of nations was upon the 
point of natural allegiance ; and passed a resolution request- 
ing "the President to cause to be laid before them such 
information as he may possess of the cases, with their circumr 
stances, in which any civilized nation had punished its native 
subjects taken in arms against her, and for which punishment 
retaliation had been inflicted by the nation in whose service 
they had been taken." 

It was obvious that whatever information was to be had 
upon this subject, must be gained from books of history, and 
treatises upon the law of nations, contained in the library ©f 
Congress, and equally in the power of the senate as of the 
President, and the constitution had nowhere made it the duty 
of the executive, to instruct the legislature in principles of 
general law. The secretary of state, to whom the resolution 
of the senate was referred, remarks, that by it information is 
demanded of the conduct of Great Britain and other powers 
in past times, without limitation in the retrospect, in circum- 
stances bearing upon the question of retafiation; and that 
these inquiries necessarily involve an extensive research in 
the history and jurisprudence of the nations of Europe, for 
which task the other duties of his office had altogether dis- 
qualified him. Another difficulty presented itself, not men- 



688 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. tX 

lioned by the secretary; that such a research would have 
brought into view cases which impugned the principles 
adopted by the American government. A few of the most 
prominent, were : 

Precedents. The case of Doctor Story, in the reign of 
Queen Elizabeth. He was a native of England, who had 
long quitted his country, become a subject of Spain, and had 
been actually received in England as an ambassador of the 
Spanish government. He was afterwards indicted for treason 
in England, pleaded the fact of his being a Spanish subject in 
his justification ; his plea was overruled, and he condemned 
and executed. 

The case of Colonel Townley, who was indicted, convicted, 
and executed, for bearing arms against England, notwith- 
standing his having been naturalized in France; and no re- 
monstrance or claim of retaliation on the part of the French 
or Spanish governments in either case. 

History also presents the French decree of Trianon, which 
provides, that no Frenchman can be naturalized abroad withr 
out the emperor's consent ; and such as are naturalized with 
consent can at no time bear arms against France. 

American history brings to view a laAv of the state of Vir- 
ginia, which allows a native citizen, by a formal deed, exe- 
cuted before witnesses, acknowledged in court, and recorded, 
to quit claim, and renounce his birth-right, and thenceforth 
be deemed as though he had never been a citizen of the state, 
necessarily implying that without such process, expatriation 
was not admissible. 

Also a judicial decision of the highest authority in the case 
of Isaac Williams ; who, being a native citizen of the United 
States, in the year 1792 received a lieutenant's commission, 
and served on board the Jupiter, a French seventy-four gun 
ship, and in the same year was naturalized in France, agreea- 
bly to the forms of law in that country, took the oath of alle- 
giance to the French republic, renouncing expressly, his alle- 
giance to all other countries, particularly to America : had 



5:813. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 2t9 

■ever since continued under the government, and for most of 
the time, had resided in France. In the year 1799, he was 
indicted, and tried before the circuit court of t|ie United 
States, holden by Chief Justice Ellsworth, for haying, ii;i Feb- 
ruary 1 797, accepted a commission under the French repub- 
lic, and instructions to commit acts of hostility against Great 
Britain, -contrary to the laws of the United States, and the 
treaty of peace between them and Great Britain.. Ofl these 
facts, the chief justice decided that the prisoner was a citizen 
of the United States at the time the acts cQmp]5i,ined of were 
done, and that the facts stated afforded no .ground of defence. 
The judge remarks, that all the members of the ciyil commu- 
nity are "bound to each other by compact, whidj cannot be 
dissolved by one of the parties by his own ac<. The com- 
pact between the community and its members, is, that the 
community should protect them, and that they should a,t all 
times be obedient to the laws of the commuaity, and faithful 
in its defence. If an emigrating citizen embarrasses himself 
with contradictory obligations by naturalization, the fault 
and folly are his own ; this implies no consent of the govern- 
ment, that the citizen should expatriate himself. 

Report of the Secretary of State. Historical researches 
presenting these views of the subject, the secretary, after 
apologizing for not going into them, merely proceeds to re- 
mark, that all the nations of Europe naturalize foreigners ; 
all employ in their service the subjects of each other, and 
frequently against their native countries, even when not 
naturalized. They all allow their own subjects to emigrate ; 
that although examples may be found of the punishment of 
■their native subjects, taken in arms against them ; these ex- 
amples are few, and have either been marked by pecuhar 
circumstances, taking them out of the contested principle, or 
bave proceeded from the passions or policy of the occasion. 
Even in prosecutions and convictions, having the latter origin, 
the final act of punishment has been prevented, with few ex- 
ceptions, by a sense of equity and humanity, or a dread of 

37 



290 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chaik. iS?. 

t-etaliation. It is confidently believed that no instance can 
be found, in which the alleged purposes of the enemy 
against the twenty-three persons in question, under the cir- 
cumstances which belong to their case, even though many of 
them may not have been regularly naturalized, are counte- 
nanced by the proceedings of any European nation. That 
if no instances occur of retaliation in the few cases requiring 
it, or in any of them, by the government employing such per- 
sons, it has been, it is presumed, because the punishment 
which has been inflicted by the native country might be ac- 
counted for on some principle other than its denial of the 
right of emigration and naturalization. Had the government 
employing the persons so punished by their native country 
retaliated in such cases, it might have incurred the reproach, 
either of countenancing acknowledged crimes, or of fol- 
lowing the example in acts of cruelty, exciting horror, rather 
than of fulfilling its pledge to innocent persons, in support of 
Fights fairly obtained, and sanctioned by the general opinion 
»nd practice of the nations of Europe, ancient and modern.* 

The opinions and reasonings of the secretary appear to 
have been satisfactory. A bill was introduced, authorizing 
retaliation in cases where the President deemed it just and 
accessary ; which failed of passing, only on the ground that 
such powers were already fully contained in the general con- 
stitutional powers of the executive to conduct the war. 

Queenston Prisoners released. This unfortunate contro- 
versy was progressing to an alarming extent, the end of 
which none could foresee, when the American government 
received intelligence from Mr. Beasley, their commissary of 
prisoners in England, that there never had been any pro- 
ceedings against the Queenston prisoners, and that they were 
restored to the condition of ordinary prisoners of war. This 
ended the controversy ; the hostages were immediately re- 

* Report «f the secretary of state, April 1814. 



frSiS. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Q^ 

leased on both sides ; and the general cartel for the exchange 
of prisoners, ratified and executed. 

Meeting of Congress. The second session of the l^th 
Congress, pursuant to the constitution, commenced on the 6th 
of December. 

Message, On the 7th, the President's opening message 
was received, in which he informed Congress, that it was a 
just expectation, from the respect due to the distinguished 
sovereign who had invited the belhgerent parties to nego- 
. tiation under his mediation, from the readiness with which il 
was accepted by the United States, and from a pledge to be 
found in an act of their legislature of the liberality which 
their plenipotentiaries would carry into the negotiations, that 
no time would be lost by the British government, in em- 
bracing the experiment for hastening a stop to the effusion of 
blood. A prompt and cordial acceptance of the mediation 
was the less to be doubted, as it was of a nature, not to sub- 
mit rights or pretensions on either side to the decision of an 
umpire, but merely to afford an opportunity honourable and 
desirable to both, for discussing, and if possible, adjusting 
them for their mutual interests. The British cabinet, either 
mistaking our desire of peace for a dread of their power, or 
misled by other fallacious calculations, has disappointed these- 
reasonable anticipations. No communication from our en- 
voys having reached us, the President remarks, no informa- 
tion has been received from that source. But it is known 
that the mediation was declined in the first instance, and 
there is no evidence, notwithstanding the lapse of time, that 
a change in the British councils has taken place, or is to be 
expected. Under such circumstances, a nation, proud of its 
rights and conscious of its strength, has no choice but an ex- 
ertion of the latter, in support of the former. To this deter- 
mination, the Ijest encouragement is derived from the success- 
with which it has pleased the Almighty to bless the American 
arms, both on the land and wafers. An historical view i^ 
then presented of the military and naval transactions of 



292 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, n- 

18] 3, frftm which the President draws the foregoing infer- 
ence. 

The beneficial effects of the war to the United States is 
thus described. If the war has increased the interruptions of 
our commerce, it has at the same time cherished and multi- 
pHed our manufactures, so as to render us independent of all 
other countries for the more essential branches, and is rapidly 
giving them an extent which wilt create additional staples for 
foreign rtiarkets; If much treasure has been expended, no 
inconsiderable portion of it has been applied to objects dura- 
ble in (heir natufe, and necessary to their permanent safety. 
If the war has exposed us to increased spoliations on the 
ocean', arid predatory incursions on the land, it has developed 
the national means of retaliating the former; and of providing 
protection kgainst the latter ; demonstrating to all, that every 
blow aimed at our maritiirife independence, is an impulse' ac- 
celerating the growth of our Hiaritime power. By diffusing 
through the mass of the nation the elements of military disci- 
pline and instruction, by augmenting and distributing warlike 
preparations a]f)plieable to future Use, by evincing the zeal and 
valour with which they will be einployed, and the cheerful- 
ness with which every necessary burden will be botne, a 
greater respect for our rights, and a long-ei* duration of our 
future peace are p^niised than could be expected without 
t^tse proofs of thfe heitional character and resources. The 
war has proved moreover thsft our fffee' governments, like 
other free governments, though slow in its early movements, 
acquires in its progress a forcfe proportioned to its freedom, 
and that the union of these states, the guardian of the freedom 
and safety of all and eaeh, is strengthened by every occasion 
that puts it to the test. In fine the war in all its vicissitudes 
is illustratirig the tapacity and destiny of the United States, 
to be a great, ftodhsh'mg, and po\verful nation. 

The beneficial effects of the War, so happily portrayed in 
the message, in a great measure alleviated the public feelings 
of regret and disappointment, at the loss of the stores at 



1313. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 293 

Sackett's Harbour, the disasters at Burlington and the Beaver 
Dams, the abandonment of the Montreal expedition, and the 
conflagration of the Niagara frontier. It did not, however, 
preclude Congress from instituting a strict inquiry into the 
causes of the ill success of the American arms, in the cam- 
paign of 1813. 

Embargo. On the 9th of December, the President sent 
a confidential communication to Congress, staling that the 
tendency of the commercial and navigation laws to favour the 
enemy and prolong the war, is more and more devtloped by 
experience. Supplies of the most essential kind, find tfeeir 
Avay not only to British posts and garrisons at a distance, but 
their armies in our neighbourhood, with which our own are 
contending, derive from our ports and outlets a subsistence 
obtainable with difficulty, if at all, from other sources. Erven 
the fleets and troops infesting our coasts and waters are by 
like supplies accommodated, and encouraged in their predato- 
ry warfare. Abuses having a like tendency, take place in our 
import trade. British fabrics and products, find their way 
into our ports, under the name, and from the ports of other 
countries, and often in British vessels, disguised as neutrals 
by false colours and papers. To these abuses it may be add- 
ed, that illegal importations are openly made with advantage 
to the violaters of the law, by undervaluations, or other cir- 
cumstances involved in a course of judicial proceedings 
against them. It is found also, that the practice of ransom- 
ing, is a cover for collusive captures, and a channel for intel* 
ligence, advantageous to the enemy. 

To remedy these evils, the President recommends an em- 
bargo, and also a law prohibiting the importation of all articles 
known to be derived either not at all, or in an immaterial de- 
gree, from any other country than Great Britain, from what- 
ever port or place, or in whatever vessels they may be 
brought ; that all persons Concerned in coOusiV'^ captures, or 
in ransoming their vessels or cargoes from the enemy, be 
subject to adequate penalties ; and an enforcement of the 



294 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13. 

non-importation laws with increased rigour. The message 
was committed to the committee of foreign relations ; and on 
the 10th, Mr. Grundy, from that committee, reported a bill, 
laying an embargo without limitation. On the 11th, Mr. 
Oakley, while the house had this bill under consideration, of- 
fered two resolutions, requesting the President to lay before 
the house, the evidence in his possession, of the facts stated in 
his message of the 9th. The house refused to consider these 
resolutions, yeas 54, nays 74. Sundry amendments were of- 
fered, tending to alter the principal features of the embargo 
bill, and negatived. The act passed the house of represen- 
tatives on the llih of December, yeas 85, nays 57 ; and in 
the senate, yeas 20, nays 14. The bill prohibited the depart- 
ure of any vessel from the ports of jurisdiction of the United 
States, except their public and private armed vessels, and 
foreign vessels in ballast, or with such cargoes only as they 
might have on board at the time of passing the act. It also 
prohibited the putting on board any water craft, or transport- 
ing by land carriage, any specie, goods, wares, or merchan- 
dise whatever, with intent to transport the same without the 
United States, on penalty of forfeiting the vessel or carriage, 
and the lading; and the President was authorized to employ 
such portion of the land or naval forces as were necessary 
to carry into effect the provisions of the law. The effects of 
this tneasurc which entirely prevented any intercourse by 
%vater, between even neighbouring ports of the same state, 
were felt with peculiar severity by the towns on the eastern 
sea-board; many of which depended on small coasting ves- 
sels for fuel and other necessary supplies. 

Under the second section of this act, the collector of New- 
York seized a large quantity of specie belonging to the Mas- 
sachusetts bank, which had been drawn from one of the banks 
in New- York, and was about being remitted to Boston ; as 
being ultimately destined for exportation. On a representa- 
tion to the legislature of Massachusetts, they determined it to 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR oy^ 

be a flagrant violation of private rights, and requested the 
governor to make a representation to the President upon the 
subject. On such representation, the President referred the 
subject to the secretary of the treasury who ordered the 
money to be returned to the agents of the bank. 

Embargo raised. On the 31st of March, the President 
sent a message to Congress, in which he states that taking 
into view the mutual interest which the United States, and 
foreign nations in amity with them have in a liberal commer- 
cial intercourse, and the extensive changes favourable there- 
to which have recently taken place, and the important advan- 
tages which may result from adapting the state of our com- 
mercial laws to the circumstances now existing ; he is induced 
to recommend the repeal of the embargo and non-importation 
laws. He recommends also, in aid of domestic manufac- 
tures, a continuance of the double duties, for two years after 
the termination of the war, and a prohibition of the exporta- 
tion of specie for the same period. 

The subject was referred to the committee of foreign re- 
lations, who on the 4th of April presented a report to the 
the house, stating that, previous to the late changes in Europe, 
the bearing of the restrictive measures was for the most part 
confined to the enemy. That at present a prospect existed 
of extended intercourse with friendly powers, highly impor- 
tant to both parties, and which it may be presumed they will 
find an equal interest and disposition to promote. All Ger- 
many, Denmark, and Holland, heretofore under the double 
restraint of internal regulation, and external blockades, and 
depredations from a commerce with the United States, ap- 
pear by late events to be liberated therefrom. That changes 
equally favourable to the commerce of the United States ap- 
pear to be taking place, in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and the 
more extreme ports of the Mediterranean. These considera- 
tions, together with those of an internal nature, equally forci- 
ble, among which are the augmentation of the revenue, main- 
tenance of the public credit, increasing the price, and pro- 



29G HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 13# 

moling the circulation of the produce of the country, had in- 
duced them to report a bill for the repeal of the embargo 
and non-importation laws. A large majority of the house 
received this bill with the highest satisfaction, and passed it 
on the 7th ; yeas 115, nays 37. 

Treasury Report, On the 8th of January, the secretary 
of the treasury presented his annual report ; stating that the 
receipts at the treasury for the year ending the 30th of Sep- 
tember, 1813, were from the customs, sales of lands, and 
other small branches of revenue g 13,568,042, 43 

From loans 23,976,912 50 

Balance in the tre^asury . 2,362,659 69 



Making an aggregate of ^39,907,607 62 

That the disbursements from the treasury 

during the same period have been, for 

civil list and msicellancous expenses $ 1,705,916 35 

Payment on accoUiHt of public debt 6,317,481 15 

War expenses, viz. 

Military 18,484,750 49 

Naval 6,420,707 20 



Amounting to 32,928,855 19 
JLeaving a balance in the treasury on the 

■ 30th of September, 181 3, of 6,978,752 43 

The estimates for the year 1814 were. 

Civil andpiscellaneaus ,^ 1,700,000 

Interest on the debt existing before the way 2,1 00,000 

Interest on the war loans 2,950,000 

Reimbursements on accQvmt of principal 7,3 50,000 
War expenses, viz. 

Military 24,550,000 

Naval 6,900,000 

^45,350,000 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 2^7 

The ways and means proposed were, 

Customs and sales of public land, $5,6000,000 

Internal revenue and direct tax, 3,500,000 

Balance of former loans, 4,720,000 

Cash in the treasury unappropriated, 1,180,000 



$15,000,000 

Remaining to be provided for by new loans $29,350,000 
for the service of the year 1814. 

To obtain this sum, a law was passed authorizing a loan of 
twenty-five millions, reimbursable in twelve years ; and the 
issue of five millions of treasury notes, bearing an interest of 
five and two fifths per cent., and payable in one year. 

Recruiting service. In the progress of the war, the difficul- 
ty of raising recruits, and the filling the ranks of the army 
increased. The regular force calculated upon and authorized 
to be raised for the service of the year 1813, was sixty-one 
thousand. The whole number actually in service in Febru- 
ary 1813, amounted to only 18,970 ; in June, to 27,G09 ; in 
December, to 34,325 and in January 1814, to 33,822. To pro- 
vide for filling the ranks for the service of they ear 1814, a law 
was passed early in the session, offering a bounty of one hun- 
dred and twenty-four dollars to each soldier who should enlist 
for five years, or during the continuance of the war ; and 
eight dollars for each man, was given to the recruiting officer, 
who should procure the enlistment. 

Steam Frigate. The powers of steam had recently, by the 
the ingenuity of Robert Fulton been successfully applied to 
the purposes of navigation. It had been found by experi- 
ment that even large vessels might be propelled by this power. 
Mr. Fulton formed the plan of constructing a steam frigate, 
adapted to harbour defence. The ship was to be the size of 
the largest class of frigates, and to be armed with heavy long 
guns, the sides to be made impenetrable to cannon balls. It 
was calculated, that this battery, b^ing propelled by steam, 
could approach any of the largest British ships on the Amni- 

38 



298 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. VJ. 

can coast in a calm, and choose her own distance and position. 
The machinery being under deck, would be safe from the en- 
emy's guns, and the frigate could protect herself from board- 
ers, by inundating the deck with boiling water, while her 
crew remained under cover. This ship, it was calculated, 
would either sink or capture the British seventy fours, or ex- 
pel them from the harbours of the United States. The plan 
was first submitted to the principal naval officers, who express- 
ed their opinion that such a ship might be rendered more 
formidable to an enemy, than any kind of engine hitherto in- 
vented, and would be equal to the destruction of one or more 
seventy-fours, or of compelling them to depart from the har- 
bours of the United States ; it was therefore their opinion 
that the best interests of the country required that the plan 
be carried into immediate execution. The scheme met the 
approbation of Congress, and five hundred thousand dollars 
were appropriated to carry it into etfect. The building of 
the ship commenced at New- York, under the direction of Mr. 
Fulton, early in the season of 1814; the ship was launched 
about the first of November; the lateness of the period be- 
fore she could be got in readiness, prevented a trial of her 
powers that season, and the peace intervening before the 
next, no opportunity has occurred for the experiment ; and 
she remains as a formidable instrument of defence against 
any future invasion. 

The sanguine friends of this system of defence were 
ready to lament the termination of the war before a fair 
experiment could be made. If it should answer their expec- 
Liitions it would be the cheapest and best mode of harbour 
defence ; and in a great measure supersede the necessity of 
ships of the line for that puqiose. 

Dt.hatcs on the Loan Bill. In the debate on the loan bill, 
the speakers took a wide range, and brought into view every 
subject connected with the causes, commencement, progress^ 
and manner of conducting the war. The opposition con- 
tfuided that, witU few excQptipns, the progress of the war 



1813. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 299 

had manifested an utter inability in its managers, and had 
been one continued scene of disaster and defeat : that the 
ill success of the recruiting service had driven the govern- 
ment to the necessity of offering the most enormous bounties : 
that these failing, a system of conscription must ultimately 
be adopted, fatal to the liberties of the citizens. 

The majority contended that the war was just in its origin, 
judiciously conducted, and had been attended with no incon- 
sidei'able degree of success : that it had ever been managed 
upon the most humane and liberal principles, and that the 
only road to a safe and honourable peace was a vigorous 
prosecution af the war until the object was obtained. After 
a discussion of several weeks, in which the arguments on 
both sides were often repeated, and with little effect, the loan 
bill, and the other war measures passed both houses of Con- 
gress, by majorities of nearly two-thirds. Congress, having 
passed a law providing that the next session should com- 
mence on the last Monday in October, adjourned on Ltie 
16th of April. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

State of Europe at the commencement of the year 1814. — Its Effects on 
the American War. — British Plan of the Campaign of 1814. — Ameri- 
ican System of Defence. — Arrival of the Bordeaux and Mediterra- 
nean Squadron and Troops in the Chesapeake. — Landing at Benedict. 
— March to Washington. — Battle of Bladensburgh. — Capture and 
Burning of Washington. — Retreat of the British Forces. — Capitula- 
tion and plunder of Alexandria.— Causes of the Disasters in the Dis- 
trict of Columbia. 

Stale of Europe. The changes which took place in Europe, 
soon ofter the commencement of the American war, had an 
important aspect upon the affairs of the United States. When 
the war commenced, Bonaparte was on his way to the north, 
with an army of half a million, to invade the dominions of the 
emperor of Russia ; at the same time he was engaged in a 
war with England and Spain, in the Spanish peninsula. The 
greater part of the rest of Europe was subject to his control. 
^The professed object of his war with Russia, was to compel 
that power to adopt the continental system, and to exclude 
English productions, and commerce from her i)orts. In the 
issue of that contest, England had a deep interest ; indeed it 
was a war upon her, through Russia. In the war in Spain, 
England was the principal, with the other powers of Europe, 
who were the allies and dependents of Bonaparte, England 
was necessarily at war. Under such circumstances, the 
American war, on the part of Great Britain, was of a defen- 
sive character. /'During the two first campaigns, England 
detached no greater force from her continental wars, than 
what she deemed necessary to maintain her possessions in 
America. At the close of the year 1812, the arms and cli- 
mate of Russia, had destroyed the French army. Only 
twenty thousand soldiers, the miserable remnant of the most 
numerous and best appointed army ever assembled in Europe, 



302 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. M. 

lived 10 reach France; and diose half frozen, famished, 
broken down, and defeated troops, were fit only to people 
the hospitals of their country. The European nations which 
liad been held in vassalage by the French emperor, took 
courage from his misfortunes, and resumed their indepen- 
dence. During the following winter, Bonaparte persuaded 
the French nation to make one more mighty struggle for 
universal dominion; and induced them to adopt a most rigid 
conscription, by which he was enabled to call into service 
three hundred thousand more of her citizens for the conquest 
of the north. 

'^In the campaign of 1813, he found Russia, Austria, Eng- 
land, Prussia, Sweden, Spain, and the greater part of Ger- 
many, united against him ; his army, consisting principally of 
newly levied conscripts, were unable to contend with the 
united forces of these powers. In a series of defeats they 
were driven from the north into their own country ; the capi- 
tal of France taken by the allied powers ; and Bonaparte 
obliged to stipulate for his life, and a small remnant of do- 
minion in the island of Elba. The Bourbons were restored 
to the thrones of France and Spain, under such restrictions 
as were calculated to ameliorate the condition of their sub- 
jects. At the commencement of the year 1814, Louis the 
18th was placed on the French throne. Bonaparte had 
retired, under the protection of an English frigate to his em- 
pire of Elba, and tranquillity was restored to Europe,^ 

Its Effects on the War. This state of things gave an entirely 
new character to the American war. The whole continent of 
Europe was opened to British productions ; and \ii time of 
peace there was no pretence, or claim of right, on the part o/ 
England, to lay restrictions on American commerce with 
other powers. She had on her hands more seamen than she 
had occasion to employ, and had no inducement to seek them 
on board American ships. There was now no subjects of 
contention between the belligerent parties, but abstract 
questions of right, which were not at this period, and might 



IJ]14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 303 

not ever again be, of any practical importance. Had they 
been sincerely desirous of peace, there could have been little 
difficulty in adjusting the terms. During the two campaigns 
that had passed, neither had gained any territory from the 
other, or any advantages which would justify their requiring 
any important sacrifices from their antagonist. Human slaugh- 
ter and suffering on each side were nearly balanced. Six 
thousand had been slain in battle on land and water, about 
the same number incarcerated in prisons, and a number 
equal to both been mangled with wounds. Four hundred 
dwelling houses had been burned, and their miserable tenants 
thrown houseless upon the world. The balance of prisoners 
taken, and devastations committed on land, was in favour of 
the British: the destruction and capture of property on the 
ocean, was much in farour of the Americans. The conquest 
of Canada had become hopeless ; and equally vain was any 
expectation, on the part of Great Britain, of acquiring any 
territory from the United States, or compelling them to ac- 
knowledge her maritime claims. America wished for peace, 
but Great Britain had very different objects in view. /She 
had long considered the American settlements in the west, as 
calculated ultimately to destroy her influence with the Indians; 
to cut off* her profitable fur trade, and to hazard her Cana- 
dian possessions ; and now rejoiced at an opportunity of ar- 
resting their progress. She affected to consider her contest 
with Bonaparte, as a struggle for the liberties of mankind, 
and the declaration of war on the part of America, as a 
league with him for her destruction. She had on hand nu- 
merous and well appoinied fleets and armies, the officers of 
which dreaded a peace establishment, and were anxious to 
distinguish themselves on the theatre of the American war, 
and retrieve the honour their country had lost in the naval 
contest of 1812. 

British Plan of the Campaign of 1814. With these views 
Great Britain delayed all arrangements for negotiation, and 
prepare^ to open the campaig^n of 1814 upon an extended 



-304 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. 14. 

scale. Her arrangements were, to send the flower of Lord 
Wellington's army against the United States ; to invade the 
country from Montreal by the way of Plattsburgh and lake 
Champlain, and penetrate as far as Albany ; to increase her 
naval force at Kingston, so as to command lake Ontario; to 
send a powerful reinforcement to the Niagara frontier; to 
augment her fleets on the American coast, so as to command 
the navigation, and destroy every thing American that should 
be found afloat; and with their navy, aided by a powerful 
land force, attack the most important and assailable points on 
the sea-board. These objects being accomplished, she could 
then require of the Americans as the price of peace, an 
abandonment of their maritime claims, and a sacrifice of a 
large portion of their western territory to her Indian allies. 
The British naval force was intrusted to Sir George Coch- 
rane, vice admiral of the red, assisted by admirals Cock- 
burn and Covington. Major General Ross commanded the 
land forces destined to co-operate with the navy on the coast. 

American Views. In the month of June, authentic intelli- 
gence was received by the American government of the com- 
plete success of the allies, and the consequent general paci- 
fication in Europe. About the same time intelligence arrived 
that large reinforcements from the British fleets and armies 
which had been engaged in the European contest were pro-, 
ceeding to America. This intelligence entirely changed the 
objects of the American government in relation to the war. 
All views of the Canadian conquest were laid aside. In- 
structions were immediately despatched to their envoys in 
Europe, who had been there patiently waiting for more than 
a year for the appointment of envoys on the part of the 
British government, to waive all questions of free trade, sai- 
lors' rights, impressment, and blockades, and to make peace, 
preserving the territory of the United States unimpaired. 

Measures of Defence, A cabinet council was specially 
called, to devise measures for the defence of the capital. 
The district of Columbia, with parts of the adjacent states 



28 14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 305 

was constituted a distinct military d'strict, and its defence 
intrusted to General Winder, aided by the wisdom of the 
President, and heads of departments; fifteen thousand of the 
neighbouring militia were ordered in for the protection of the 
city of Washington, and a large flotilla of gun-boats, assigned 
to the Chesapeake, under the command of Commodore Barney, 
for the protection of the harbours and towns on the bay. A 
proclamation was issued, convening Congress on the 20th of 
September. Every effort was made to pat the country in a 
state of defence, to meet the approaching crisis. The large 
maritime towns, feeling their exposed situation, used their 
utmost exertions to place themselves in an attitude of defence. 
At Baltimore, the inhabitants of every party, age, and class, 
capableof labour, divided themselves into four classes, each 
of which wrought at the fortifications every fourth day. The 
citizens of the neighbouring country came in, in considerable 
numbers, and aided their brethren in constructing works of 
defence. In Philadelphia, New- York, Boston, Newport, and 
in all the other considerable towns on the coast, the citizens 
universally turned out. All able to bear arms, though ex- 
empt from mihtary duty, enrolled, organized, and equipped 
themselves for service. Mr. Clinton, the mayor of New- York, 
though opposed to the war, in the name of the city authorities, 
addressed his fellow-citizens in the following persuasive lan- 
guage: 

"Fellow-citizens, the city is in danger; we are threatened 
with invasion : it is the duty of all good citizens to prepare 
for the crisis : we must arm ourselves to aid the regular forces 
of the government in a vigorous defence. The questions are 
not now whether the war was just or unjust, in its commence- 
ment ; whether the declaration of it was politic or expedient; 
whether its causes have long ago ceased or not ; whether our 
government might or might not have brought it to a speedy 
termination ; or whether they have done their duty towards 
us since they involved us iti this war. These are solemn 
questions which will one day be agitated, and which must be 

39 



3^5^ HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chav, 14. 

answered hereafter. The present inquiry is, Will we defend 
our country, our city, our property, and our families ? Will 
we go forth to meet and repel the enemy? We recommend 
to the whole militia of the city, to keep themselves in com- 
plete readiness for service, ready to march at a moment's 
warning; and to all our citizens, a cheerful proffer of theip 
services to aid by voluntary labour, in the completion of the 
vorks of defence necessary for the safety of the city." 
This animating address called forth the energies of the citi- 
zens. A loan of a million of dollars Avas subscribed for the 
immediate wants of the city ; and people of every de- 
scription contributed their labour. On the 4th of September, 
a respectable number of ladies, among whom were several 
matrons of distinction, crossed over to Brooklyn, and forming 
a procession at the ferry, proceeded to fort Greene, accom- 
panied by the music of the Tammany society, their numbers 
increasing on their march, to about three hundred, and per- 
formed a tour of labour on the fortifications. 

On the 4th of July, a requisition from the President was 
made on the states most exposed for a corps of ninety-three 
(thousand five hundred militia, with a request to the executives 
to hold in readiness for immediate service, their respective de- 
tachments and to fix on the places of rendezvous with a view 
to the most exposed points. 

Arrival of the British Reinforcements at Bermuda. On the 
29th of May, the flower of lord Wellington's army, which had 
previously been employed in the seige of Bayonne, embarked 
at Bordeaux, under the command of General Ross, with seve- 
ral ships of the line, frigates, and transports, for the American 
service. At the same time, another large detachment from 
the troops in the south of Spain, for the same object, sailed 
from the Mediterranean. These squadrons arrived at Bermu- 
da, the place of general rendezvous, the last of July. Here 
they found Admiral Cochrane waiting their arrival, to direct 
flieir futme naval operationsr. 



4814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 307 

British enter the Chesapeake. On the 3d of August, the whole 
of the Bordeaux, and about half the Mediterranean armament, 
with an additional squadron then at Bermuda, composing a 
fleet of sixty sail, under Admiral Cochrane, with a land force 
of six thousand, commanded by Major General Ross, sailed 
from Bermuda for the Chesapeake, and entered the bay on 
the 10th of August. The other division of the Mediterranean 
armament, proceeded to join Sir George Prevost in Canada. 
The fleet proceeded up the bay to the mouth of the Potomac, 
when a squadron under Commodore Gordon entered that 
river, and advanced towards Alexandria. The principal part 
of the fleet, with the land forces, continued their course to the 
mouth of the Patuxent, and entered the river on the 18th. 

Commodore Barney's flotilla of gun-boats, had previously 
entered that river and retired as far up as the depth of the 
water would admit. The British fleet proceeded up the river, 
and on the 19th commenced landing on the left bank of the 
Patuxent, at Benedict, forty miles from Washington. On the 
20th, the troops commenced their march up the river ; on 
the 21st, reached Nottingham; andon the 22d, Upper Marlbo- 
rough. Commodore Barney's flotilla had reached Pig Point, 
two miles above Marlborough, where, finding it impossible to 
save his gun-boats, or prevent their falling into the hands of 
the enemy, he blew them up, and proceeded to join General 
Winder. 

British land at Benedict. The object of the armament under 
Admiral Cochrane was the destruction of the American navi- 
gation, and the plunder and devastation of all the assailable 
points on the coast.* This flotilla of gun-boats was the most 
considerable object in the Chesapeake, and their retreat into 
the Patuxent, first led the British to that point. After they 
were destroyed, the admiral and general, learning at Marlbo- 
rough the defenceless state of Washington, determined oti 

-— — — — — - — — — — ' 

* Admiral Cochrane's letter, An^nRt IRth. 1S14, 



-Jfj.'j IIISI'ORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chat. 14. 

their extraordinary and hazardous visit to that city.* These 
unfortunate gun-boats, on which the country once relied for 
defence, invited the enemy to the neighbourhood of the capi- 
tal, and occasioned its destruction. 

Assembling of the Amtrican Forces. On the 19th, Colo- 
nel Monroe, with Captain Thornton's troop of horse, recon- 
noitred the enemy at Benedict. On the 20lh, the George- 
own, and Washington city militia commenced their march to- 
wards Benedict, and encamped about four miles from the 
eastern branch bridge on the road to Upper Marlborough. 
On the 21st, the marines from the navy yard, under Colonel 
Miller, joined the militia and marched to the wood yard, 
twelve miles from the city. Here they were joined by the regu- 
lars of thp36lhand 38th regiments, and encamped for the night. 
Colonels Monroe and Beall joined the army at the wood-yard 
that night, having rctiu'ned from reconnoitcring the enemy, 
and reported that there were twenty-seven square rigged ves- 
sels at Benedict, and that the enemy's force might be cs- 
timated at six thousand. Captain Herbert joined with his 
troops, and Colonel Laval with two companies of cavalry. 
Early on the morning of the 22d, a light detachment, con- 
sisting of the 36th and 38th regiments, under Colonel Scott. 
Colonel Laval's cavalry, and three companies under Major 
Peter, from the brigade of General Smith, were ordered out 
as an advance guard, to meet and harass the enemy on their 
march. This detachment proceeded on the road towards^ 
Nottingham, while the main body took a position on an ele- 
vated piece of ground about a mile in advance of the wood- 
yard. General Winder with his staff, accompanied by the 
secretary of state, proceeded to reconnoitre. The dragoons 
preceding the detachment, met the advance of the enemy, 
and retired back to the detachment, Avhich then fell back to the 
main body. Finding the enemy had taken the route by 
Upper Marlborough, General Winder fell back to the bat- 

* Narrative of the campaiga of 1814, by a British officer. 



1^14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 303 

talion old fields, eight miles from Marlborough, and the same 
distance from Washington. Late in the evening of the 
22d, the President, the secretaries of war and navy, and the 
attorney general, joined General Winder at the battalion 
old fields, and remained on the ground until the evening 
of the 23d, when, from an apprehension of a night attack, 
it was concluded to abandon that position, and retire to the 
eastern branch bridge. General Winder's army was mus- 
tered and reviewed by the President on the morning of the 
23d. It then consisted of four hundred horse, under the com- 
mand of Colonel Tilghman, four hundred regular troops, un- 
der Colonel Scott ; six hundred marines and flotilla men, un- 
der Commodore Barney, and Captain Miller, with five pieces 
of heavy ordnance, and eiglrteen hundred militia ; forming an 
aggregate of three thousand two hundred men, with seventeen 
pieces of artillery. The genei-al staff consisted of the 
President of the United States, as captain general, the secre- 
taries of state, war, and navy ; the attorney general, and 
Brigadier General Winder. At Bladens burgh, General Stans- 
bury had arrived from Baltimore on the 22d with his brigade 
of drafted militia. The 5th regiment, consisting of the elite 
of the Baltimore city brigade, under Colonel Sterrett, a bat- 
talion of riflemen, under Major Pinckney ; and Myers's and 
Magruder's companies of artillery, with six field-pieces, ar- 
rived on the 23d. 

On the 18th, General Van Ness, of the Virginia miHtia, 
ordered General Young to call out the whole of his brigade, 
including the Alexandria militia, and to be subject to the or- 
ders of General Winder. Two troops of cavalry attached to 
this brigade, were ordered to rendezvous at Bladensburgh, to 
accompany the secretary of state, and be subject to his order. 
On the 22d, General Young, by order of the commanding 
general, marched his brigade, consisting of four hundred and 
fifty men, with three brass field pieces, and took a position 
on a height near the head of Piscataway creek, three miles in 
the rear of fort Washington. This disposition was intended 



310 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cjiaf. 14, 

to aid in the defence of the fort, and the city of Alexandria, 
or to join General Winder, as circumstances might require. 
This brigade remained in this position until the morning of 
the 24th, when orders were given General Young to march to 
the eastern branch bridge to support General Winder, which 
were soon afterwards countermanded, and the general or- 
dered to cross the Potomac, by which means the service of 
this corps was lost. Colonel Minor, with a regiment of Vir- 
ginia militia, composed of six hundred infantry, and one hun- 
dred cavalry, arrived at Washington on the evening of the 
23d, unequipped, and reported himself to the President, 
who referred him to the secretary at war for orders. The 
secretary informed him that arms and ammunition could not 
be obtained from the arsenal that evening, but referred him 
to Colonel Carbury for supplies the next morning. Colonel 
Carbury was not to be found, having gone out to his country- 
seat the preceding evening ; and it was not until afternoon of 
the next day, and not until after the battle, that access could 
be had to the arsenal for arms for this regiment. 

Position of the Armies on the 23d. The invading army at 
Upper Marlborough, ou the 23d, did not exceed four thou- 
sand five hundred efiective men, without cavalry, baggage, 
wagons, or means of transportation, and with but three 
pieces of light artillery, drawn by men. The British re- 
mained at Upper Marlborough until the afternoon of the 23d, 
when they commenced their march towards Washington by 
the way of Bladensburgh. Colonel Scott, and Major Peter, 
with light detachments, were sent out to meet and harass the 
enemy, and General Stansbury was ordered to proceed with 
the troops under his command, on the route direct to Upper 
Marlborough. Colonel Scott, with his detactment, met the 
British about six miles in advance of the main body, and after 
some skirmishing, retreated. The American army at the 
battalion old fields, were placed in a favourable attitude of 
defence ; they remained in their position until evening, 
when, apprehending the approach of Uie enemy, they were 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 31 1 

ordered to march to Washington. The British encamped 
that evening three miles in front of the position which the 
Americans had left. The retreat of the American troops 
towards the city was precipitate and disorderly, believing the 
enemy to be in close pursuit. The secretary of state, passing 
through Bladensburgh at twelve o'clock at night, advised 
General Stansbury immediately to fall upon the British rear, 
as he understood they were in full march to Washington. 
The general having been ordered by the commander in chief, 
to take post at Bladensburgh, and a part of his brigade 
having but just then arrived, was not in a situation to comply 
with the wishes of the secretary ; and the British remaining 
quietly in their encampment during the night, such a move- 
ment would have been fruitless. 

Position of the Americans on the 24th. The retreating 
army halted and bivouacked for the night at the eastern 
branch bridge. Here General Winder, on the morning of the 
24th, established his head-quarters with the main body, con- 
sisting of three thousand five hundred men. General Stans- 
bury four miles in front at Bladensburgh, with twenty-five 
hundred; Colonel Minor with seven hundred in the city of 
Washington ; endeavouring to get across to the arsenal, and 
General Young's brigade of five hundred, twelve miles be- 
low, on the left bank of the Potomac ; making an aggregate of 
seven thousand two hundred men. Various reports were 
brought to head-quarters of the movements and intentions of 
the British. The President and heads of department assem- 
bled at General Winder's head-quarters in the morning of 
the 24th. The secretary of state, upon hearing a report that 
the British were marching upon the city by the way of Bla- 
densburgh, proceeded to join General Stansbury, to aid him 
in forming a line of battle. That General, on the approach 
of the enemy, retired from his position in advance of Bladens- 
burgh, and occupied the ground west of the village, on the 
right bank of the eastern branch. Here it was at last resolved 



312 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14. 

to meet the enemy, and fight the battle that was to decide the 
fate of the capital. 

Order of Battle. The front line was formed by General 
Stansbury and his officers, with the aid of the secretary of 
state. It consisted of Stansbury's brigade of infantry, Stcr- 
rett's regiment, including the command of Major Pinckncy, 
and the Baltimore artillery. At the village is a bridge cross- 
ing the eastern branch, from which a turnpike road leads 
directly to the city. About four hundred yards from this 
bridge, and a small distance to the left of the road, six 
pieces of six pounders, of the Baltimore artillery, occupied a 
temporary breastwork of earth, well calculated to command 
the bridge. Part of the company of riflemen under Major 
Pinckney, and one other company, took position on the right 
of the artillery, partially protected by a fence and brush. 
On the left of the artillery, leading to a barn in the rear, two 
companies from the regiment under Colonel Shultz, and the 
other part of the Baltimore riflemen were posted. Colonel 
Progan took post in the rear of Major Pinekncy, his right 
resting on the road ; Colonel Shultz continuing his hne on 
the left with a small vacancy in the centre of the two regi- 
ments. Colonel Sterrett formed the extreme left flank of the 
infantry. At this moment. Colonels Beall and Hood entered 
Bladensburgh with two regiments of Maryland militia from 
Annapolis. They immediately crossed the bridge, and took 
position on a commanding height on the right of the turnpike, 
three hundred yards from the road, to secure the right flank. 
At eleven o'clock, intelligence reached General Winder's 
head-quarters from the reconnoitering parties, that the British 
were in full march for Bladensburgh. The whole main body, 
except a few men left at the eastern branch bridge to destroy 
it, were immediately put in motion. The march was rapid ; 
the cavalry and mounted men as they arrived, took post on 
the left flank. The troops from the city were formed as they 
arrived. Captain Birch, with three pieces of artillery, was 
stationed op the extreme loft of the infantry of the first line. 



3814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 313 

and a rifle company near this battery to support it. At twelve 
o'clock, the secretary at war, the President, and the other 
heads of departments, arrived, and examined and approved 
the disposition of the troops. They were proceeding at full 
speed towards the point where the enemy were advancing, 
when they were stopped by Colonel Simmons, informed of 
their danger, and immediately returned to the city. This for- 
tunate circumstance prevented the capture of the Am^erican 
President and suite. At this moment the enemy entered Bla- 
densburgh. The officers were rapidly forming the second 
line. Commodore Barney's flotilla men and marines came 
up at quick time, and formed on the right of the main road, 
in a line with the Annapolis militia. The heavy artillery were 
planted in the road, and three twelve pounders to the right, 
commanded by Captain Miller. Lieutenant Colonel Kramar. 
with a battalioii of Maryland militia, was posted in a wood in 
advance of the marines, and of Colonels Beall and Hood's 
command. The regiment under Colonel Magruder was 
posted on the left of Commodore Barney, to support his batte- 
ries. The regiment under Colonel Brent, and Major Wa- 
ring's battalion, with some small detachments, formed the left 
ilank of the second line, and were posted in the rear of Major 
Peter's battery. Lieutenant Colonel Scott, with the regulars, 
was posted in advance of Colonel Magruder, in a line with 
Major Peter's battery, but in such a manner as not to mask 
it; other small detachments were stationed at various points. 
Battle of Bladensburgh. At half past twelve, before the 
second line was completely formed, the battle commenced. 
The Baltimore artillery fired upon, and dispersed the British 
light troops advancing along the streets of the village. They 
immediately took shelter behind the buildings and trees, and 
presented only single objects for the artillery. The British 
BOW commenced throwing rockets, and began to concentrate 
their light troops at the bridge, which the American general 
had not taken the prccHution to destroy. The riflemen and 
artillery now poured in a destructive fire upon this body, aad 

40 



314 lilSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chaiv H* 

cut them down in great numbers as they advanced. The 
British at length gained the bridge, rapidly passed it, formed, 
and passed steadily on, flanking to the left, and compelled the 
riflemen and artillery to give way. Major Pinckney was 
severely wounded. He exerted himself to rally his men, 
and succeeded in forming them at a small distance in the rear 
of his first position, and united with the fifth Baltimore regi- 
ment. General Stansbury continued about four hundred 
yards in the rear of the battery ; and left this division to 
contend with the whole force of the enemy, until it was com- 
pelled to retire. The British then occupied the ground they 
had left, and continued to advance. Colonel Sterrett, with 
the 5th Baltimore regiment, and Captain Birch with his artil- 
lery, were ordered to advance to support the first line. The 
British soon took advantage of the orchard which had just 
been occupied by the retreating troops, and kept up a galling 
fire on the American line. Captain Birch now opened a 
cross fire with some cflect. Colonel Sterrett made a prompt 
movement in advance, but was ordered to halt. At this time 
the enemy's rockets assumed a more horizontal direction, 
and passing near the heads of Colonel Shultz and Pragan's 
regiments, caused the right wing to give way ; which was 
immediately followed by a general flight of the two regi- 
ments. 

Birch's artillery and the 5th regiment remained, and con- 
tinued their fire with ett'ect. The British light troops were, 
for a short time driven back, but immediately rallied and 
gained the right flank of the fifth. This regiment, with the 
artillery, were then ordered to fall back and form a small dis- 
tance in the rear. But instead of retreating in order, the 
fifth followed the example of the other two regiments and 
fled in confusion. The whole of the first line was now com- 
pletely routed. Various attempts were made lo rally, but 
without success. No movements were made by the cavalry 
to cover the retreat, though the open and scattered manner 
in which the pursuit was conducted afforded a fine opportu- 



M14» HISTORY OF THE LATE WAH. 315 

nity for a charge by the cavahy. This line retreated upon a 
i'oad, which in a short distance forked into three branches, 
one leading to Montgomery court-house, on the Potomac, fif- 
teen miles above Washington, one to Georgetown, and the 
other to the capital. General Winder endeavoured to direct 
the retreating forces to the city, but without success ; when 
they came to the three branches, the greater number took the 
road to Montgomery court-house, as the place of the great- 
est safety. 

Colonel Kramar, stationed on the right of the road and in 
advance of Commodore Barney, was next driven from his 
post and retreated upon the troops of Colonels Beall and 
Hood, posted on an eminence on the right. After this move- 
ment, the British columns in the road were exposed loan an- 
imated fire from Major Peter's artillery, which continued un- 
til they came in contact with Commodore Barney. Here they 
sustained the heaviest loss. When they came in full view, 
and in solid column upon the main road, he opened upon them 
an eighteeen pounder, which completely cleared the road. 
They made several attempts to rally and advance, but were 
as often repelled. This induced them to flank off to the right 
of the American lines to an open field. Here Captain Miller 
opened upon them with three twelve pounders, with great ef- 
fect. The British continued flanking to the right and press- 
ed upon Colonels Beall and Hood's command. These 
troops after firing three or four rounds at such distance as to 
produce no effect, broke and fled. This exposed the artillery 
of Barney and Miller, to the whole British force, who soon 
gained their rear. Both these officers were severely wounded. 

Cemmodore Barney taken. Commodore Barney ordered a 
retreat, but the British being in his rear, he was made prison- 
er. As he lay wounded by the side of the fence, he beckon- 
ed to a British soldier, and directed him to call an officer. 
General Ross immediately rode up, and, on being informed 
of his character and situation, ordered his wounds to be dress- 
ed and paroled him. The second line was not entirely con- 



316 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. U 

nected, but posted in advantageous positions in connexion 
Avith, and supporting each other. The command of General 
Smith, including the Georgetown and city mihtia, and the 
regulars under Colonel Scott, and some other corps, still re- 
mained unbroken. 

Retreat of the American troops. The British light troops. 
in the mean time advancing on the left of the road, had gained 
a line parallel with Smith's command, and were endeavouring 
to turn his flank. Colonel Brent was placed in a situation cal- 
culated to prevent this movement. The British continued their 
march and came within long shot of Magruder's command, 
who opened a partial fire upon them. At this moment the 
whole of the troops were ordered to fall back : after retreat- 
ing about one hundred rods, they were halted and formed by 
their officers^ when they were again ordered (o retreat and 
and form on the heights west of the turnpike gate, and half a 
mile in front of the capitol. Here Colonel Minor, with his 
regiment of Virginia militia, having spent the day in the city, 
endeavouring to gel access to the arsenal for supplies for his 
troops, came up and joined General Smith, While in the act 
of forming upon these heights. General Winder arrived and 
ordered the troops to retire to the capitol in expectation 
of there uniting with the first line ; but these troops, except- 
ing one company of Colonel Laval's cavalry, were not to be 
found on capitol hill. 

City ev actio ted. A conference was immediately held be- 
tween General Winder and the secretaries of state and war? 
that it would be impossible in the existing state of things to 
make effectual resistance against the invasion of the city, or 
defend the capitol ;" the whole force was then ordered to quit 
the city and retreat through Georgetown to a place of safety. 
On receiving this order, the troops then remaining manifest- 
ed the deepest regret. They consisted principally of the 
Georgetown and city militia, who had not had an opportunity 
of signalizing themselves in defence of their fire-sides ; to 
leave them without a struggle, an unresisting prey to the cne- 



1H14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 317 

ttiy, was more than they could endure. That order which 
they had heretofoFe observed, was entirely destroyed ; some 
went home, some went in pursuit of refreshments, and those 
that remained in a body gave themselves up to those feelings 
which fatigue, exhaustion, and disappointment produced. An 
attempt was made to rally the troops at Tenleylown but with 
little success. The few that were there collected, marched 
five miles up the Potomac ; and early in the morning of the 
^5th, orders were given for the assembling the troops at 
Montgomery court-house, and on the 26th, General Winder, 
with the troops there assembled, took up their line of march 
for Baltimore. 

The President and heads of departments, after their nar- 
row escape at Bladensburgh, concluded to leave the remain- 
ing events of the day to the direction of General Winder, and 
returned to the city. Judging that the American officers, on 
their return from the field of battle, would need refreshments, 
the President had ordered an elegant entertainment prepared 
for them at his house. As soon as it was determined that the 
city was not to be defended, the cabinet retired to Mont- 
gomery court-house. 

Washington occupied hy the British. In the mean time, the 
British advanced from Bladensburgh without further opposi- 
tion •, and at eight o'clock in the evening General Ross en- 
tered the city at the head of eight hundred men ; having ar- 
rived on capitol hill, he offered terms of capitulation, which 
were, that the city might be ransomed for a sum of money 
nearly equal to the value of the public and private property 
it contained ; and that on receiving it, the troops should retire 
to their ships unmolested. 

Washington burned. There being neither civil nor mili- 
tary authorities in the city, to whom the propositions could 
be made, the work of conflagration commenced. The capi- 
tol, the President's house, the offices of the treasury, war, and 
navy departments, and their furniture, with several private 
buildings, were destroyed. The party sent to burn the 



sis HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. U. 

President's house, entered it and found in readiness the enter- 
tainment which had been ordered for the American officers. 
In the dining hall the table was spread for forty guests, the 
sideboard furnished with the richest liquors, and in the 
kitchen the dishes all prepared. These uninvited guests de- 
voured the feast with little ceremony, ungratefully set fire to 
the building where they had been so liberally fed, and return- 
ed to their comrades. One house from which General Ross 
apprehended himself to have been shot at, was burned, and 
all the people found in it slain. The most important public 
papers had been previously removed. The navy-yard with 
its contents, and apparatus, one frigate of the largest class 
on the stocks, and nearly ready to launch, and several 
smaller vessels were destroyed by Commodore Tingey, under 
the direction of the secretary of the navy, after the capture of 
the city. 

Estimated Loss. The loss of the United States, as esti- 
mated by a committee of the senate, was, in the capitol and 
other public buildings 460,000 

At the navy yard, in moveable property 417,745 

In buildings and fixtures 91,425 



$969,170 
To this estimate is to be added the loss of the public library- 
furniture, and other articles not included in the foregoing ; 
making the whole public loss somewhat to exceed a million 
of dollars. 

British retreat and re-embark. The British having ac- 
comphshed the object of their visit, left the city on the 25th 
and passed through Bladensburgh at midnight, on the route 
to Benedict. They left their dead unburied ; such of their 
wounded as could ride, were placed on horseback ; others 
in carts and wagons, and upwards of ninety left behind. 
The wounded British prisoners were intrusted to the humanity 
of Commodore Barney, who provided every thing for their 
comfort; and such as recovered were exchanged, and re- 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 31 a 

turned to the British. Two hundred pieces of artillery at 
the arsenal and navy yard fell into their hands, which they 
were unable to remove ; these they spiked, knocked otf the 
trunions, and left. Their retreat, though unmolested, 
was precipitate, and conducted under evident apprehensions 
of an attack. They reached Benedict on the 29th, and em- 
barked on the 30th. 

British Loss. The British loss, from the time of their land- 
ing until their embarkation, was estimated at one hundred 
and eighty killed, and three hundred wounded. General 
Ross states their loss to be only fifty-six killed, and one 
hundred and fifty-five wounded. 

American Loss. The American loss was twenty killed, 
and forty wounded. Indeed, it seems, with some exceptions, 
to have been the principal object of those engaged in the 
defence of the capitol, to " keep out of harm's way." 

The capture of the city of Washington, containing at that 
time about ten thousand inhabitants, was of no greater conse- 
quence in the ultimate issue of the contest, than that of any 
other town of the same magnitude ; but, as it was the seat of 
the general government, great eclat on the part of the British, 
and much chagrin and disappointment on the part of the 
Americans was attached to that event. The destruction of 
the arsenal, navy yard, military and naval stores, and all 
public property connected with the operations of the war, 
was the legitimate and expected consequence of the victory ; 
but the conflagration of the capitol, public offices, Presi- 
dent's house, private dwellings, the library, and national 
archives, unauthorized by the laws of civilized war, stamped 
its authors with lasting infamy. Having given such a character 
to the war. General Ross appeared with a very ill grace, 
soliciting the clemency of the very people whom he had 
abused inbehalf of the hundred wounded prisoners whom his 
precipitate retreat from Washington obliged him to leave al 
their mercy. The humanity of the Americans, however, for- 
bade their visiting on these unfortunate prisoners (he crimes 



320 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap- 14: 

of their general. Such instances of wanton barbarity united 
every heart, and strengthened every arm in defence of the 
country ; and this was happily the last opportunity which 
this plundering army enjoyed of pillaging and burning an 
American city. 

Capture of Jilexandria. The defence of the cities of Alex- 
andria, Washington, and Georgetown, against an attack by 
water, depended principally on fort Washington, erected on 
Mason's island, six miles below^ Alexandria. On the 1 llh of 
May, a deputation from these cities waited on the secretary at 
war, and unitedly represented to him the necessity of further 
works at this post ; in consequence of which, Colonel 
Wadsworth of the engineers, by order of the secretary, 
visited the works with the committee, and reported that the 
battery at fort Washington was in such a state, and so effectu- 
ally commanded the channel, that it was not to be apprehend- 
ed the enemy would attempt to pass it, while its present de- 
fences remained entire. Its elevated situation prevented a 
cannonade from the ships. In case of a design against the 
District of Columbia, the engineer remarked, an assault by 
land was most probable ; to guard against which, he recom- 
mended some inconsiderable works in the rear ; no additional 
fort in the neighbourhood was deemed necessary.* The 
works on the 24th of August were garrisoned by eighty men, 
under the command of Captain Dyson, who had received or- 
ders from General Winder to station patroles on every road 
leading to the garrison, and in the event of being approached 
in the rear, to blow up the fort, and retreat across the river. 
On the 27th, the squadron under Commodore Gordon, con- 
sisting of two frigates, four rocket ships and bomb vessels, 
and one schooner, which had entered the Potomac on the 1 7th. 
and made their way thus far up the river, appeared approach- 
ino- the fort -; Captain Dyson immediately blew it up and 
crossed with the garrison to the Virginia shore. While Ad- 
miral Cockburn, under w^liose orders Commodore Gordon 



* Colonel Wadsworth's report to the secretary at war. 



)yl4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 321 

acted, was at Washington with General Ross, the civil author- 
ities of Alexandria sent a deputation to inquire of him, what 
treatment was to be expected in the event of that city's fall- 
ing into his hands ; the admiral assured them, that private 
•property should be respected, and that what provisions might 
be wanted, would be fairly paid for. This, in some measure 
quieted the fears of the citizens. On the 28th, after the 
squadron had passed Mason's island, the deputation proceed- 
ed to visit Commodore Gordon, to inquire his intentions in 
relation to the city. He declined answering them then, but 
said he would inform them when he arrived opposite the town ; 
assuring them, however, that the persons, houses, and furrti- 
ture, of the citizens, should be unmolested if he met with n6 
opposition. On the 29th, the British squadron drew up in 
line of battle before the town ; and a communication sent 
from the commandant of the squadron, to the city authori- 
ties, in answer to their application for favourable terms ; pro- 
posing that the town, with the exception of the pubhc works, 
should not be destroyed, nor the inhabitants molested, or their 
dwellings entered, unless hostilities were commenced on the 
part of the Americans, if the following articles were complied 
with : 

Capitulation. 1st. All naval and ordnance stores, public 
and private, to be immediately delivered up. 

2d. Possession to be immediately given of all the shipping, 
and their furniture sent on board by the owners, without de- 
lay* 

3d. The vessels that had been sunk to be raised and de- 
livered up, in the state they were in on the 19th of August. 

4th. Merchandise of every description to be immediately 
delivered up, including such as had been removed from the 
city since the 19th of August. 

5. Refreshments of every kind to be supplied for the ship?, 
nnd paid for in l»ills on the British government, 

'II , ■' 



322 HISTORY OI' THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1 4 

6th. Officers to be appointed to see the foregoing articles 
fulfilled, and any deviation on the part of the citizens to ren- 
der the treaty void.* 

The inhabitants were allowed one hour to consider and an- 
swer these propositions. It was stated to the British officer 
bearing the flag, that the corporation possessed no power to 
compel the return of merchandise which had been carried into 
the country, or to oblige the citizens to assist in raising the 
sunken vessels ; and these points were given up. To an in- 
quiry, as to what was included in the term merchandise in the 
capitulation, it was answered, that it would embrace all such 
as were intended for exportation, such as cotton, tobacco, 
flour, and bale goods. 

City plundered. To these harsh and disgraceful terms, 
the unprotected state of Alexandria obliged the citizens to 
submit. The capitulation was signed, and a scene of indis- 
criminate plunder ensued. Three ships, three brigs, and 
several bay and river craft were taken and loaded with plun- 
der, and several vessels burned.. Sixteen thousand barrels 
of flour, one thousand hogsheads of tobacco, and one hun- 
dred and fifty bales of cotton and several thousand dol- 
lars in value of wines and sugars rewarded these marauders. 
While they were loading the vessels, Captains Porter and 
Creighton of the navy, rode up to a British midshipman, who 
was superintending the loading of a boat, seized him by the 
tjollar, and were about to take him off. An alarm signal was 
immediately given on shore to all employed on the wharves, 
who immediately embarked, and preparation was made for an 
assault. The inhabitants, apprehending the immediate de- 
struction of the town, sent a deputation to the commanding 
officer, stating that the act was unauthorized by them, and not 
done by any inhabitant of the place ; and assuring him that 
guards should be placed at the intersection of each street 
leading to the water, to prevent similar occurrences in future. 
On this representation the commodore consented to overlook 



Ca>itnhti«Ti of Alexsm<Jrra» 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 333 

it, and tranquillity was restored. The British squadron, 
having completed its object at Alexandria, commenced its 
return. 

Measures to obstruct the return of the Squadron. A series 
of powerful exertions were made by Commodores Rodgers, 
Porter, and Perry, with the men under their command, aided 
by the Virginia militia, to interrupt their passage down the 
river. Porter and Perry proceeded to take the most com- 
manding stations, and erect batteries on the river bank, while 
Rodgers prepared a flotilla of fire ships and boats to attack 
them in rear. 

Porter took a station at the white house on the west bank. 
On the evening of the first of September, he arrived on the 
ground with the secretary of state, and Generals Hungerford 
and Young, and immediately proceeded to clear the ground, 
and prepare for mounting the cannon, then momently ex- 
pected from Washington. The militia were ordered to take 
post in the woods on the high banks of the river, to annoy 
the enemy with their musketry as they passed. At the first 
moment of Commodore Porter's arrival, an eighteen gun brig 
was seen approaching the pass. General Hungerford imme- 
diately took post with his militia in the wood ; and two small 
■pieces arriving at the same time, were planted on the edge of 
the bank, and opened a brisk fire. As the brig came abreast 
of the battery, being favoured with a fine breeze, she fired 
one broadside, and passed on. The militia followed some 
distance along the bank, firing at the men on deck. On the 
same evening, two eighteen pounders arrived, and augmented 
the battery. The next morning a bomb ship and two barges, 
one carrying a long thirty-two pounder, and the other a mor- 
tar, commenced an attack on the battery. The bomb ship 
anchored out of the reach of the guns, and commenced throw- 
ing shells. The two barges at the same time flanking the 
battery on the right. The firing continued all day without 
intermission, and with little injury to the Americans. In the 
afternoon, Commodore Porter removed one of his eighteen 



324 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. H, 

pounders to a more comicanding position, where he coukl 
reach the enemy's ship. On the 3d, the British were rein- 
forced by another bomb ship and a sloop fitted up as a rocket 
vessel. On the whole of this day, and the succeeding night, 
the ships, kept up a constant fire of shot, shells, and rockets. 
In the course of the day, the prizes laden with the plunder of 
Alexandria arrived, and anchored out of the reach of the guns. 
Five additional field pieces arrived from Washington, and a fur- 
nace for heating shot was erected. A constant fire was kept 
up from the ships during the fourth and fifth. One attempt 
was made to land which was prevented by the pickets. The 
rocket ship lying close in shore, was much cut up by a twelve 
pounder, which had been removed to a position on the bank, 
so as to reach her. On the 5th, several thirty-two pounders, 
two mortarsj and a supply of ammunition arrived from Wash- 
ington ; carpenters had arrived and were employed in mount- 
ing the guns, and every preparation was made to prevent the 
passage. On the same evening the two frigates arrived, and 
anchored above the battery. The whole British force nov/ 
consisted of ten vessels, mounting one hundred and seventy- 
three guns. The battery had thirteen mounted guns ; the 
two mortars and all the thirty-two pounders Avere destitute 
of carriages. At twelve o'clock, on the 6th, the two frigates 
got under weigh, with the tide and a fair wind, and stood down 
for the battery, the other vessels following in succession. On 
observing the vessels to be getting under weigh. Commodore 
Porter despatched an officer to general Hungerford, request- 
ing him to resume his position in the woods, to annoy the 
enemy with his musketry ; but from the distance of his camp 
and the rapid approach of the British, he was unable to 
march before the firing commenced, and after that period, 
the shot, shells, and rockets, which showered over the hills 
from the ships and fell among his troops, prevented their 
approach. The whole of the British force now anchored 
abreast of the batlery, and by shifting their ballast brought 
•iheir guns to bear. Commodore Porter kept up a well 



J 

1814. lUSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 225 

directed fire of hot shot on their approach, and for an hour 
after their anchoring, when finding himself completely over- 
powered, he retired behind a hill on his left. The ships im- 
mediately weighed anchor, and passed on, pouring their 
broadsides on the feattery, and into the neighbouring woods, 
as they passed. A company of Virginia riflemen on the 
right, and of militia on the left, annoyed the enemy's decks 
with considerable effect.* After the smaller ships had passed, 
the frigates proceeded down the river and anchored abreast 
of the Indian head. Commodore Porter launched a torpedo 
after the ships, which exploded at nine o'clock without effect. 
Commodore Perry had taken post at the Indian head, and 
erected a battery of one eighteen pounder, and several sixes; 
with these he kept up a well directed fire on the ships as 
they passed, and sustained their fire for an hour, when finding 
all his efforts unavailing, he retired out of the reach of the 
British fire, and the squadron passed on to the bay without 
further opposition. 

While these transactions were taking place in front, Com- 
modore Rodgers was operating with his fire ships on their 
rear. On the 3d, he proceeded fi-om Washington down the 
river, with three fire ships, the object of which was to destroy 
the two frigates and a bomb ship, which lay three miles be- 
low Alexandria. He conducted the fire ships within range 
of musket shot, and fired them ; but the wind faihng, the ob- 
ject was defeated. A second attempt was made on the 4th, 
when the Commodore proceeded down the river with another 
fire ship, and came within a mile of the enemy's sternmost 
vessels just at the time they had succeeded in silencing 
Commodore Porter's batt-ery ; here the ship was fired and 
drifted down towards the squadron, but without any success- 
ful issue. 

The invasion of the district of Columbia, the capture of 
the cities of Washington and Alexandria, and the destruction 

* Commodore Porter's letter to the secretary of the navy. 



"226 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14. 

of the public and private property, with so little injury to the 
invaders, and in so short a period, filled the people of the 
United States with surprise and regret. The events of the last 
twelve days of the month of August could scarcely be credited. 
The site of the city of Washington had been selected for the 
capital of the United States, as a place ofperfect security. Here 
the united wisdom and military skill of the nation were sup- 
posed to be centered. On the 24th of August, the President 
as commander in chief of the military of the United States, 
had at his command, a regular army of forty thousand men, 
and eight hundred thousand militia ; any or all of whom he 
had power to order to the defence of the capital. Within the 
compass of fifty miles, the distance which General Ross's army 
marched from their place of landing to reach the city, was a 
population of two hundred thousand, itself furnishing a force 
of at least twenty thousand men, capable of bearing arras, 
whose property, families, and fire-sides were exposed : to 
which may be added, upwards of a thousand regular troops, 
stationed at different points in the district ; an arsenal, sup- 
plied with munitions of war, sufficient to arm any force that 
might be called in ; an immense public and private property 
to be defende.d, and the national honour and character to be 
protected from insult in the capitol. Posterity will hardly 
credit the story, that in such a state of things, a British force 
of four thousand five hundred men landed at Benedict, and 
after a deliberate march of fifty miles, occupying five days' 
time, put to flight the President, the heads of departments, 
the commanding general of the district, and all opposing 
force, and on the evening of the 24th entered the city, de- 
stroyed the capitol, and plundered and destroyed all the pub- 
lic, and as much private property as they chose ; commenced 
their return on the 25th, and reached their ships on 
the 29th, and re-embarked, without opposition; that two 
frigates and half a dozen small craft should ascend the 
Potomac two hundred miles ; pass a fort without oppo- 
sition, erected on a commanding position, expressly for the 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 327 

purpose of protecting the district and capitol ; compel the 
principal city to accept a most humiliating capitulation, and 
submit to be rifled by a contemptible squadron. The events 
of this period will be the less credited, when contrasted with 
the invasion and capture of General Burgoyne in 1777, when 
a British general with double the force, venturing only about 
the same distance from his ships into a country very sparsely 
inhabited, was surrounded and captured with his whole army. 

Report of Committee of Investigation. Early in the ses- 
sion of Congress immediately succeeding these events, a com- 
mittee of the house of representatives was appointed to in- 
quire into, and report the causes that led to them. The com- 
mittee investigated and reported all the facts connected with 
the subject, with great accuracy and minuteness ; and re- 
marked that in their opinion, the means authorized for the 
security for the 10th military district by the President of the 
United States, in a cabinet council of the 1st of July, were 
ample and sufficient, as to the extent of the force, and sea- 
sonable as to the time when the measures were authorized. 
Having exculpated the President, they leave it to Congress 
and the nation to draw their own conclusions from the facts 
detailed by the committee.* 

These facts very much divide and equalize the blame 
among the different actors. Public sentiment, however, at 
Washington, laid much the greater share of it upon the secre- 
tary at war; and obliged him to resign. On the 29th of 
August, the President informed him, that a high degree of ex- 
citement had been raised among the militia of the District of 
Columbia ; one officer of that corps had given notice, that 
he would no longer obey any order coming through General 
Armstrong as secretary at war ; and that he must so far yield 
to this impulse, as to permit some other person to perform the 
duties of that office, in relation to the defence of the district. 

'''■ Report of the committee of investigation'. 



028 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14. 

To this proposition the secretary rcphcd, that the excite- 
ment was without foundation, proceeding from vile and prof- 
ligate motives ; that he should never consent to surrender n 
part of his legitimate authority for the sake of preserving the 
residue 5 and that if the President's decision was taken in 
conformity to the suggestions he had made, he wished him to 
accept his resignation. This was offered and accepted, and 
the duties of the office of secretary at war, temporarily in- 
trusted to the secretary of state. 

Causes of the Capture of Washington. After the lapse oi 
ten years, the causes which produced these unfortunate results 
may be more distinctly observed by a comparison of the 
principal facts and portrayed with less injury to individual 
reputation. They may be classed under three heads ; a fail- 
ure of seasonably obtaining the requisite number of militia; 
want of system in the plan of defence ; and want of courage. 

Late arrival and insufficient numbers of the Militia. Of the 
fifteen thousand militia destined for the defence of Washington, 
five thousand were to be drawn from Pennsylvania. The 
orders for this purpose issued from the war office on the 17th 
of July, but did not reach General Winder until the 8th of 
August, nor the governor of Pennsylvania until the 23d ; there 
was of course a total failure of that corps. Despatches on 
which the safety of the capital might essentially depend, ought 
not to be trusted to the uncertainty and irregularity of mails* 
The militia regulations of Pennsylvania were at this period 
in such a situation, that the orders could not have probably 
been complied with, had they been seasonably received ; but 
this fact ought to have been known, and the deficiency sup- 
plied from some other source. Nearly one half of the other 
requisitions failed of being complied with, so that instead of 
fifteen thousand, the commanding general had at no time, 
more than about six thousand militia at his command : the 
late arrival of these rendered their services of little value. 
To have made them eftectual, they should have been on the 
ground at least several days for the purpose of being mustered, 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 329 

armed, disciplined, and taught what was expected from them. 
Some of the Maryland corps had been on the ground two 
days, some arrived on the evening before, and some only 
half an hour previous to the batde. The other militia were 
equally late. It is evident that difterent bodies of men, thus 
hastily called from their occupations, and unacquainted with 
each other, were illy qualified to meet a veteran foe in the 
open field. Most of the Virginia militia were not in season 
to take any part in the action. The unaccountable neglect 
at the arsenal, which prevented Colonel Minor's corps from 
obtaining supphcs, greatly contributed to the misfortunes of 
the day. An addition of six hundred infantry and one hun- 
dred cavalry at Bladensburgh at twelve o'clock on the 24th, 
would probably have produced a very different result. But 
Colonel Cranberry was at his country-seat, and General 
Armstrong did not see fit to attend to the delivery of the sup- 
plies himself, and the troops were detained from the field. 
Why the corps under General Young, stationed a few miles 
below the city, was not ordered up for its defence, is a ques- 
tion which has never been answered. In a case of so much 
urgency, it was expected that the energies of the nation would 
have been put forth, to call a sufficient armament seasonably 
into the field. If militia were not to be procured in one 
place, they might have been in another, and the district de- 
fended. 

Want of a System of Defence. Another very operative 
cause of the misfortunes of the day was the want of a sys- 
tematic plan of defence. In making arrangements for meet, 
ing the enemy, some eligible position should have been taken 
between Benedict and Washington ; the forces there concen^ 
trated, formed, and prepared for action. Some rallying point 
should also have been fixed on, and clearly understood by all 
the troops, to which they were to be conducted in case of de- 
feat. Where the point should have been, for the ultimate 
meeting of the enemy, and the decision of the fate of the capitol, 
was perhaps of less consequence, than that one should have 

42 



330 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14- 

been somewhere fixed. Had the iniHtia been seasonably 
assembled, perhaps the most eligible place would have been 
in the forests through which the enemy had to pass from 
Benedict to Marlborough ; where their road might have been 
abatted, and the militia and riflemen have been eminently use- 
ful. It was here the British expected the first rencontre with the 
Americans, and proceeded with the utmost caution ; but the 
lateness of the arrival of the militia prevented such an 
arrangement. The first })osition taken, with a view to meet 
the enemy, was at the battalion old fields; but this was aban- 
doned without attack on the evening of the 23d, and the main 
body precipitately hurried to the eastern branch bridge. It 
appears not to have been determined to make a stand at Bla- 
densburgh until the enemy were in full march, and within 
a few miles of that point. The arrangements were then very 
hastily made, and the main body which had been harassed 
by a precipitate retreat the evening before, were now hurried 
back to the scene of action, and had not time to form before 
the battle commenced ; and the first line, not being effectually 
supported by the reserve, was thrown into confusion, and fled, 
their officers knew not where, not having fixed any rallying 
point for their re-assembling. Probably the very circum- 
stance which was much relied on for the defence of the city, 
that the commanding general would be assisted by the mili- 
tary talents of the cabinet, was a principal cause of the de- 
feat. It distracted his measures, lessened his responsi- 
bility, and subjected him to continual embarrassment. 

Want of courage in the troops engaged, has been assigned 
as another cause of the unfortunate events of the 25th. Where 
so great an object was at stake, and the balance of numbers 
and preparation evidently on the side of the Americans, the 
public had a right to expect that the contest would not have 
been given up, without a much more severe struggle. It is 
;iot however intended, that there was any extraordinary dc- 
tkiency of bravery in these troops, more than in others, called 
{,ogether ujader like circumstances. Assembled in the moment 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 33 1 

of action, unacquainted with each other, uninstructed in the 
duties of the field, and disheartened by a precipitate retreat, 
the result may be accounted for without imputing to this corps 
any innate want of courage. The committee of investigation 
exphcidy declare that General Winder conducted with firm- 
ness and bravery during the engagement, and that he and the 
other officers used every exertion to rally the troops, and 
prevent the flight. 

The safety of the cities on the Potomac above fort Wash- 
ington depended entirely upon that garrison. When it was 
known that a naval force had entered the river for the avowed 
purpose of attacking the district of Columbia, it was to have 
been expected that the fort would have been put in a com- 
plete state of defence, the garrison increased, and orders 
given to defend it to the last : instead of this it was but illy 
supplied, garrisoned only by a captain's command, and or- 
ders given to abandon it on the approach of danger. This 
at once exposed the cities bordering on the river above to the 
ravages of the enemy. Captain Dyson, the commandant, was 
indeed arrested, tried by a court martial, convicted, and cash- 
iered. Still a great share of the blame of abandoning that 
position attaches itself to higher authority. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Admkral Cochrane's Letter, threatening to lay waste the Coast. — ^The 
Secretary's Reply. — The President's Proclamation. — Baltimore threa- 
tened. — Plan of Defence. — Landing of the British on the Patapsco. — 
General Ross slain. — ^Battle of the 12th September. — British re- 
connoitre the American Lines and retreat. — Re-embark. — Attack on 
Fort M'Henry. — Brave Defence. — British repulsed. — Proceed down 
the Bay. — Leave the Chesapeake — Burning the Shipping at Petti- 
paug. — Attack on Stonington. — Gallant Defence. — Capture of East- 
port. — Castine, and the Eastern Coast. — Destruction of the Frigate 
Adams. — Plunder of the Towns on the ^oast of Massachusetts. 

Admiral Cochrane's Threats. On Admiral Cochrane's ar- 
rival in the Chesapeake, he was joined by Admiral Cock- 
burn's squadron of three ships of the line, several frigates, 
and smaller ships of war, which had been pursuing the same 
system of plunder and rapine, for several months on the 
counties bordering on the bay, which they had practised the 
preceding season. The whole fleet now consisted of sixty 
sail. 

That the government and country might be at no loss what 
species of warfare was intended to be carried on by this ar- 
mament, the admiral addressed a note to the secretary of 
state, dated the 18th of August, declaring that he had been 
called upon by the governor general of the Canadas, to aid 
him in carrying into eifect measures of retaliation against the 
inhabitants of the United States, for the wanton destruction 
committed by their army in Upper Canada ; and that in com- 
pliance therewith he should issue orders to the naval force 
under his command, to destroy and lay waste such towns 

AND DISTRICTS ON THE COAST AS MIGHT BK FOUND ASSAILA- 
BLE. 

He proceeds to remark, with an affected air of humanity, 
that he had hoped this contest would have terminated without 
being obliged to resort to severities, which are contrary to 



S34. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 14. 

the usage of civilized warfare ; that it was with extreme re- 
luctance he had been compelled to adopt this system of de- 
vastation, and hoped the executive of the United States would 
authorize the staying of such proceedings, by making repara- 
tion to the suffering inhabitants of Upper Canada.* 

These threats were not communicated to the American 
government until after the events at Washington and Alexan- 
dria had shown the manner in which they were intended to be 
executed. 

Secretary'' s Reply. — On the 9th of September, the secre- 
tary of state replied, tkat at the commencement of the war, 
the United States had resolved to conduct it in a manner 
most consonant to the principles of humanity, and to those 
friendly relations which it was desirable to preserve between 
the two nations on the return of peace. They perceived, 
however, with the deepest regret, that a spirit alike humane 
and just, was neither cherished nor acted upon by the British 
government. Without dwelling upon the deplorable cruel- 
ties committed by the savages, in the British ranks and British 
pay, on American prisoners at the river Raisin, which had 
never been disavowed nor atoned, the secretary referred 
him to the wanton desolation committed at Havre-de-Grace 
and Georgetown, stating, that these villages were burned 
and ravaged by the naval forces of Great Britain, to the ruin 
of their unarmed inhabitants, who saw with astonishment 
that they derived no protection from the laws of war ; that 
during the same season, scenes of invasion and pillage car- 
ried on under the same authority, were witnessed all along the 
shores of the Chesapeake to an extent, inflicting the most se- 
rious private distress, and under circumstances that justified 
the suspicion that revenge and cupidity led to their perpetra- 
tion ; the late destruction of the houses of government at 
Washington, is another act which necessarily comes into 
view. In the wars of modern Europe, no example of the 

"^ Admiral Cochrane's letter to the secretary of state, August 18th, 1814. 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 335 

kind, among nations the most hostile to each other, can be 
traced. In the course of ten years, most of the capitals of 
the principal powers of the continent of Europe have been 
conquered and occupied by the victorious armies of each 
other, and no instance of such wanton and unjustifiable de- 
struction has been seen ; resort must be had to distant and 
barbarous ages to find a parallel. 

Although these acts of desolation incited, if they did not im- 
pose on the government the necessity of retaliation yet in no 
instance had been authorized. The burning of the village 
of Newark, posterior to the outrages in 1813, was not done 
on that principle. That village adjoined fort George, and its 
destruction was justified by the officer who ordered it, on the 
ground that it became necessary in the military operations in 
that quarter. The act, however, was disavowed by the gov- 
ernment. The burning at Long Point on lake Erie was un- 
authorized, and the conduct of the officer subjected to the in- 
vestigation of a military tribunal. For the burning at St. 
Davids, committed by a few stragglers, the officer who com- 
manded in that quarter was dismissed without a trial for not 
preventing it. It as little comports with any orders which 
have been issued to the military and naval commanders of the 
United States, as it does with the established and known hu- 
manity of the American nation, to pursue a system which the 
British government appears to have adopted. This govern- 
ment owes it to itself, and to the principles which it has ever 
held sacred, to disavow, as justly chargeable to it, any such 
acts of wanton, cruel, and unjustifiable warfare. Whatever 
unauthorized irregularities may have been committed by any 
of its troops, it would have been ever ready, acting on the 
principles of sacred and eternal obligation, to disavow ; and 
as far as might be practicable, to repair. But in the plan of 
desolating warfare, now so explicitly made known, and at- 
tempted to be executed on a plea so utterly groundless, ap- 
pears a spirit of deep rooted hostility, which, without the evi- 
dence of such facts, would not have been believed to exist. 



336 mSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 15. 

or to have been carried to such an extremity. For the repa- 
ration of injuries of whatever nature not sanctioned by the 
laws of civilized nations, which the military or naval force of 
either power may have committed against each other, this 
government will always be ready to enter into reciprocal ar- 
rangements, and it is presumed the British government will 
neither expect, nor propose any other.* 

To this letter Admiral Cochrane, on the 19th of September, 
answered, that he had no authority to enter upon a discussion 
of the points therein contained : that there did not appear to 
be any hope that he should be authorized to recall the gen- 
eral order he had issued : that he should forward a copy of 
the letter to his government, and until he received instructions 
to the contrary, the measures he had adopted would be per- 
sisted in, unless remuneration be made to the inhabitants of 
the Canadas for the outrages committed on them by the troops 
of the United States.* 

These threats were carried into execution by a series of 
disgraceful plunder and pillage on those accessible points in 
the Chesapeake which had escaped the ravages of the last 
season ; and awakened in the citizens on the sea-board, appre- 
hensions of the most alarming kind. They were now called 
upon to defend their property, their families, and fire-sides, 
from immediate destruction. 

On the 1st of September, the President returned to Wash- 
ington ; and from the ruins of the capitol, issued a proclama- 
tion giving publicity to Admiral Cochrane's letter ; stating 
that the conduct of the British left no prospect of safety to 
any thing within the reach of his predatory and incendiary 
operations, but in a manful and united determination to chas. 
tise and expel the invader ; urging all the citizens of the 
United States to unite their hearts and hands in giving efiect to 
f.he ample means possessed for that purpose ; enjoining all 



* Secretary of state to Admiral Coctirane, September 9th, 1814. 

* Admiral Cochrane to the secretary of state, Sept. 19th, 1014. 



lSi4, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 33^ 

officers civil and military to exert themselves m executing the 
duties with which they were respectively charged ; and re« 
quiring the officers commanding the military districts to be 
vigilant and alert in providing for their defence ; and author- 
izing them to call to the defence of threatened and exposed 
places, portions of the militia most convenient thereto, wheth- 
er they were parts of the detached quotas or not. The pro- 
clamation concludes with observing that on an occasion that 
appeals so forcibly to the proud feelings and patriotic devo- 
tion of the American people, none will forget what they owe 
to themselves, to their country, and to the high destinies which 
await it, what to the glory of their fathers in establishing that 
independence which is now to be maintained by their sons, 
with the augmented strength and resources with which hea- 
ven has blessed them.* The governors of Pennsylvania, 
Virginia, and New- Jersey, issued addresses to their respective 
citizens breathing the same spirit ; ordering their mihtia to 
hold themselves in immediate readiness, directing detachments 
to march to the most exposed points, and calling on volun- 
teers to defend their country. These patriotic addresses 
were answered by voluntary offers of service in many in- 
stances, more than were required. 

Attempt on Baltimore. After the successes at Washington 
and Alexandria, the next and most inviting object for British 
cupidity was the city of Baltimore. General Ross, elated with 
his recent success, boasted that he would make that city his 
winter-quarters, and that with the force under his command he 
could march where he pleased in Maryland. On the 10th of 
September, the British forces appeared ascending the bay, in a 
direction towards Baltimore. On the 11 th, fifty sail consisting 
of several ships of the line, frigates,and transports,with six thou- 
sand men, entered the mouth of the Patapsco ; and early in the 



* President's proclamation, Sept. 1st, 1814. 
43 



338 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. 13. 

morning of the 12th, commenced landing at North Point, four- 
teen miles below the city. 

Defence of the City. The defence was intrusted to Major 
General Smith, of the Maryland militia, assisted by General 
Winder and all theUnited States troops which had been recent- 
ly engaged at Washington, and supported by all the militia of 
Baltimore and the neighbouring country, the whole composing i 
a force of fifteen thousand. Every citizen of Baltimore capable 
of bearing arms appeared in the ranks, ready to sacrifice his fife 
in defence of the city. The point selected by General Smith, 
where the ultimate defence was to be made, was upon the 
heights three miles in advance of the city towards the mouth of 
the Patapsco. Here the citizens with great labour had, under 
the direction of their general, erected strong fortifications. The 
general, with the main body, took post at this point with a heavy 
park of artillery. General Strieker, with the city volunteers 
and militia, to the number of three thousand five hundred, was 
posted four miles in advance at the head of long log lane, his 
risht on the head of a branch of Bear creek, his left on a 
marsh, and the arlillery posted at the head of the lane. Th*- 
rifle corps were stationed in the low thick pines, in advance. 
General Strieker was ordered, in case of an attack by a 
superior force, to fall back on the main body. In this 
position the Americans waited the approach of the enemy. 
The whole population of the city came out to witness, 
the event on which their safety depended, and, on the neigh- 
bouring heights, animated their brethren in arms. The Brit- 
ish, having completed the debarkation by seven o'clock in the 
morning, took up their line of march for the city. The 41st 
regiment in advance, followed by eight pieces of artillery, 
next the second brigade, then the sailors, and last the third 
brigade. The march of the main body was preceded by 
blank palroles, and recoimoitering parties. 

Battle at Long Log Lane. In this order they approached 
the American lines. General Ross, with a small reconnoi- 
tering party, half a mile in advance of the main body, was 



11514. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 339 

shot through the breast by a rifleman, fell into the arms of his 
aid-de-camp, and died in a few minutes. By this event, the 
command devolved on Colonel Brook, of the 44th ; who, 
after the troops had recovered from the shock occasioned by 
the loss of their leader, led them on in order of batde. The 
advance of General Strieker, consisting of cavalry and rifle- 
men, under Major Heath, were first met by the enemy, and 
after some skirmishing, fell back on the line. The main body 
of the British were but a short distance in rear of their ad- 
vance ; and as they came up, the action immediately became 
general. The attack commenced by a discharge of rockets 
from the British, and was soon succeeded by grape, canister, 
and smalj arms from both sides. General Strieker maintained 
his position against a great superiority of numbers for an hour 
and an half, when the regiment on his left giving way, he was 
obliged to retire to a position in the rear where he had sta- 
tioned one regiment as a reserve. Here the troops were 
formed, with the reserve, and without further molestation 
from the British, fell back to Worthington mills on the left, 
and half a mile in advance of the main body. On the night 
of the 12th, the British bivouacked in advance of the 
battle ground ; and on the morning of the 13th, commenced 
their march towards the city. At ten o'clock, they appeared 
in front of the American lines, distant two miles on the Phila- 
delphia road. Here they halted, pushing their advance 
within a mile of the works; where they had a full view of 
the position and defence of the Americans. They remained 
on this ground, reconnoitering the works, and waiting the 
result of the attack on fort M'Henry until one o'clock in the 
morning of the fourteenth, when they commenced a retreat 
to their shipping, began their embarkation the succeeding 
evening, and completed it the next day. 

Attack on Fort M'-Henry. The entrance from the Patapsco 
into Baltimore basin, or harbour, is by a narrow strait, the 
passage of which is defended by fort M'Henry, two miles be- 
low the city. The command of this post was intrusted to 



340 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. 15. 

Major Armistead, of the United States artillery. The garri- 
son, before the appearanee of the enemy in the Patapsco, 
amounted to one hundred men ; on their approach, it was 
increased to a thousand. Two batteries to the right of the 
fort were erected on the river to prevent the enemy's landing 
during the night, in rear of the town ; the one called the city 
battery, was manned by Lieutenant Webster, with a detach- 
ment of the flotilla ; the other, denominated fort Covington, by 
a company of sailors, under Lieutenant Newcomb. The 
British designed a simultaneous attack by land and water, 
and while the transports were landing the troops a-t north 
point, the ships of war proceeded towards fort M'Henry. On 
the 12th, sixteen ships, including five bomb vessels, drew up 
in line of battle, within two and a half miles of the fort ; and 
on the 13th at sunrise, the attack commenced from the bomb 
ships at two miles distance. The regular artillerists under 
Captain Evans, and the volunteers under Captain Nicholson, 
manned the batteries in the star fort. Captains Banbury's, 
Addison's, Rodman's, Perry's , and Pennington's commands, 
were stationed in the lower works ; and the infantry under 
Colonel Stewart, and Major Lane, were in the outer ditch 
to meet the enemy at his landing, should he attempt one. 
The guns from the fort were unable to reach the British 
ships, and left the garrison exposed to a constant shower of 
shot and shells, without being able to do the enemy any 
injury. At ten o'clock, three of the bomb ships took a nearer 
position, on which a brisk fire opened upon them, and com- 
pelled them to resume their former station. At one o'clock 
in the morning of the 14th, the British threw a considerable 
force above the main works, on the right near fort Covington. 
and commenced throwing rockets. Twelve hundred picked 
men were detached with scaling ladders, to attempt the taking 
of the fort by storm. As they were approaching the shore, 
a fire opened upon them from fort Covington, and a six gun 
battery. The fire wss directed by the blaze of their rockets, 
and the flashes of their guns. This fire continued about two 



)MU. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 341 

hours ; the landing was prevented, one of the barges sunk, 
and the others compelled to return. The bombardment con- 
tinued with very little intermission, from sunrise on the 13th 
to seven o'clock on the 14th, when the squadron got under 
weigh, and stood down the river. Four hundred shells fell 
within the fort; four men were killed, and twenty-four 
wounded. The officers and men of the garrison did their 
duty; and by their brave and judicious conduct, the British 
were repulsed, and the city saved from pillage. 

In the battle of the 12th, the American loss was twenty- 
four killed, one hundred aud thirty-nine wounded, and fifty 
taken prisoners. The British acknowledge a loss in the 
same battle of thirty-five killed, and two hundred and fifty- 
one wounded. Their whole loss in killed, wounded, and 
missing in the battle, and at the attack on the fort, was esti- 
mated by the American general at six hundred. The defeat 
of the British in their attempt on Baltimore, was highly hon- 
ourable to General Smith, who planned, and conducted the 
operations, and to the officers and men engaged in the de- 
fence. It banished the desponding apprehensions of the 
other exposed cities, and taught them that freemen in arms in 
defence of their country, are invincible. Robert G. Harper 
accompanied General Strieker as a volunteer, and was found 
in the advance in the batde of the 12th. James L. Donald- 
son, one of the city representatives, was among the slain. Al- 
most the whole loss fell on the city brigade, which being com- 
posed of the elite of the city, took their stand in the front hne 
at the post of danger, and fought with distinguished bravery 
in defence of their altars and fire-sides. The inhabitants 
mourned the loss of many of their valuable fellow-citizens, 
and erected a splendid monument to their memory in the 
centre of the city. After the battle, the British land and na- 
val commanders, in a council of war, wisely determined that 
though the city might be taken by their forces, yet it would 
j)robably cost them more than the object was worth; and 
concluded to abandon it. They proceeded down the bay. 



342 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1.3. 

nnd after landing and pillaging at several points Avhcrc re- 
sistance was not to be expected, the whole armament left the 
waters of the Chesapeake ; Admiral Cochrane, with a part of 
the squadron, sailed for Halifax ; and Admiral Malcomb, with 
the remainder, and the land forces, for Jamaica. 

Pettipaug Point. The blockade of the harbour of New- 
London and the frigates United States and Macedonian, contin- 
ued during the year 1814. On the 7th ot April, a detachment 
from the blockading squadron of six barges with upwards of 
two hundred men, in execution of the plan of destroying all 
American shipping, proceeded to the mouth of Connecticut 
river and ascended it seven miles to Pettipaug point, where 
they arrived at 4 o'clock on the morning of the 8th, and burn- 
ed twenty-two vessels which had been moored there as a place 
of safety. The village consisting of about thirty houses and 
a number of stores, was exposed to conflagration by the burn- 
ing of the shipping. Several houses took fire, but were ex- 
tinguished by the exertions of the inhabitants who remained in 
the village, and were suffered to put out the fires. The pro- 
perty destroyed was estimated at ^150,000. The inhabit- 
ants had no notice of the approach of the enemy, until the 
vessels were on fire. At ten o'clock the British left the village 
and proceeded two miles down the river, where they lay until 
evening, and then returned to their ships. The militia col- 
lected in considerable numbers from the neighbouring towns, 
but were unable to prevent the return of the enemy. 

Attack on Stonington. On the 9th of August, a detachment 
from the squadron oft' New-London, consisting of the flag ship 
Ramilies 74, Pactolus 38, a bomb-ship, and the Despatch brig 
of 22 guns, appeared oflf Stonington point. At five o'clock a 
note was addressed to the magistrates of the village by the 
commodore, informing them that one hour from the receipt of 
the note was allowed them for the removal of the unoffending: 
inhabitants and their effects. The officer who brought the 
note was inquired of whether a flag would be received from 
the magistrates ; his reply was, that no arrangement could be 



1814. H1ST0RY OF THE LATE WAR. 34,5 

made. On being asked whether Commodore Hardy had de- 
termined to destroy the town, he rephed, that such were his 
orders from Admiral Cochrane ; and that it would be done 
most eifectually. On receiving this communication, the vil- 
lage was thrown into the utmost consternation. The most 
valuable articles were hastily removed or concealed. The 
sick and aged were removed, the women, children, and inhab- 
itants incapable of bearing arms, fled to the neighbouring farm- 
houses. A few militia stationed at the point, under the com- 
mand of Lieutenant Hough, were placed in the best positions 
to give notice of any attempt to land. A number of volun- 
teers hastened to the battery on the point, which consisted of 
two eighteens, and one four pounder mounted on field carria- 
ges, protected by a slight breastwork. An express was im- 
mediately despatched to General Cushing at New-London, 
the United States commanding general of the district, with a 
request for immediate assistance. The general considered 
this as a feint intended to mask a real attack on fort Griswold, 
Avhich commanded the harbour of New-London ; that the 
object of the enemy was to draw the regular troops and mili- 
tia from that post, and in the mean time land a considerable 
force at the head of Mystic, four miles in the rear of the fort, 
and take it by storm. Having accomphshed this object they 
could destroy or lay under contribution the town of New-Lon- 
don, and proceed up the river and capture the frigates.* This 
opinion of the general's was confirmed in consequence of the 
squadrons having lately been reinforced 5 and a number of 
ships taking stations near Mystic. Having these views of the 
designs of the enemy, General Cushing made correspondent 
arrangements with MajorGeneral Williams, commander of the 
division of militia in that district ; and orders were immedi- 
ately given for the assembling of one regimental the point of 
attack at Stonington ; one at the head of Mystic river to pre- 
vent a landing for the purpose of attacking fort Griswold : 



* General Cushing's letter to the secretary at war. 



6U HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. ]>, 

one company of arLillcry and one regiment of infantry at Nor- 
wich port, a few miles in the rear of the frigates ; and one 
company of artillery and regiment of infantry for the protec- 
tion of fort Trumbull and the city of New-London. These 
dispositions were promptly and zealously carried into effect. 
The village of Stonington point consists of about one hun- 
dred dwelling-houses, and a number of stores, compactly built 
on a narrow peninsula extending half a mile, and forming a 
convenient harbour. The attack commenced on this villaire 
at 8 o'clock in the evening by a discharge of shells from the 
bomb-ship, and rockets and carcases from several barges, and 
launches which had taken their stations at different points. 
The fire continued without intermission until midnight, and 
was occasionally answered from the battery as the light of 
the rockets presented a view of the object. During this pe- 
riod, the non-combatant inhabitants of the village, having takeiv 
shelter in the neighbouring houses and barns, were waiting 
the event in trembling anxiety 5 expecting every moment to 
witness the conflagration of their dwellings. At twelve o'clock 
the firing ceased ; no building was consumed, or person in- 
jured. In the course of the night the militia and volunteers 
assembled in considerable numbers. At day-light on the 
10th, the approach of the British was announced by a dis- 
charge of rockets from several barges and a launch, which 
had taken their stations on the east side of the village, and 
out of the reach of the battery. A number of volunteers with 
musketry and one four pounder hastened across the point to 
meet the enemy supposing they would attempt a landing from 
the barges. Colonel Randall of the 13lh regiment, who was 
at this time approaching the battery with a detachment of 
militia, ordered his men to assist the volunteers in drawing 
over one of the eighteen pounders to the extreme end of the 
point, the fire from which soon compelled the barges to seek 
their safety by flight : during this time the brig was working 
up towards the point,and at sun-rise dropped anchor within half 
a mile of the battery. This was now manned only by about 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 345 

twenty men ; and their ammunition being expended, they 
spiked the guns and retired. Tiie brig now continued delib- 
erately to pour into the village her thirty-two pound and 
grape shot, and the bomb ship to throw her shells for an hour 
without a shot being returned. 

Repulse. At eight o'clock a supply of ammunition having 
arrived, the eighteen pounder was drilled, and such an ani- 
mated and well directed fire opened on the brig, that at three 
o'clock, having received several shot below her water mark, 
and much damage in her spars and rigging, she slipped her 
cables and hauled off, out of the reach of the battery. In 
this contest two Americans only were slighdy wounded. The 
flag which was nailed to the staff on the battery was pierced 
with seven shot ; the breast work was considerably damaged, 
and six or eight dwelling houses much injured. Considerable 
bodies of militia arrived in the course of the day : and Briga- 
dier General Isham took the command. The inhabitants had 
recovered from the consternation of the first moments ; things 
assumed a more regular and orderly aspect. Every one ca- 
pable of bearing arms was at the post of danger, and the 
others employed in removing their effects. 

The Ramilies and Pactolus now hauled up and took stations 
within two miles of the village ; and threatened it with instant 
destruction. The magistrates sent a deputation on board the 
Ramilies with a note addressed to Commodore Hardy, inform- 
ing him, that the town was now cleared of unoffending in- 
habitants in consequence of his note of yesterday, and wish- 
ing to know his determination respecting the fate of the 
village. The deputation consisting of Colonel Williams 
and Mr. Lord, were detained on board an hour, their own 
boat sent back ; and at the expiration of the time, they were 
conveyed in a flag from the ship with a note to the magistrates, 
stating, that the deputation having given assurances thai 
no torpedoes had been fitted out from that port, and having 
engaged that none should be in future, or receive any aid from 
the town ; that further hostilities should cease, aqd the vil^agi? 



346 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. 15, 

be spared, in case they would send on board his ship, by 
eight o'clock in the morning of the 1 Ith, Mrs. Stewart, a lady 
then resident at New-London, wife of the late Britsh consul 
at that place and her family. But in case of failure, he should 
proceed to destroy the village effectually ; for which he staled 
that he possessed ample means. The magistrates and citi- 
zens of the borough were in a singular state of embarrass- 
ment on receiving this demand; being required to procure 
and send on board the commodore's ship, a lady over whom 
they had no control. Mrs. Stewart was under the protection 
of the government of the United States ; had ever been 
treated with respect at New-London, where she had long re- 
sided ; her personal safety was never in the least at hazard ; 
and her husband's application to have his family sent on 
board the squadron had been received by the commanding 
general and transmitted to the executive, and no doubt would 
be granted •, but the borough of Stonington had no concern 
«r authority on the subject, and possessed no powers to com- 
ply with the required condition. At eight o'clock in the morn- 
ing of the 11th, the magistrates, under the direction of the 
rommanding general, sent a flag on board the Ramilies with 
the foregoing representation. The commodore replied, that 
he should wait until twelve o'clock, and if the lady was not 
then sent on board, hostilities would re-commence. At this 
period, three regiments of militia had arrived, and the town 
was well secured against a landing. At three o'clock, the 
bomb-ship having taken a station out of the reach of the guns 
of the battery, commenced throwing shells into the village 
and continued until evening. At sun-rise on the 12th, the 
bomb-ship renewed her operations, while the Ramilies and 
Pactolus were warping in ; at eight o'clock these ships open- 
e^ their fire. This heavy bombardment, continued until 
noon, when the ships ceased firing. At four in the afternoon 
ihey hauled off to their former anchorage, and the contest 
ended. The Vice Consul was obliged to resort to other, 
'^nd more appropriate measures to obtain his wife and family. 



lyii. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 347 

than that of desolating an unoffending village. The ships 
taking a station out of the reach of cannon shot from the bat- 
tery, the citizens were obliged to witness the scene without 
the power of resistance. The troops withdrew from the point 
excepting a guard of fifty men, who were kept to patrole the 
streets and extinguish fires. The cannon from the battery 
ivere ordered up to the north end of the point, to be in readiness 
in case of an attempt at landing ; this hazardous service was 
performed by volunteers of the Norwich artillery, who in- 
stantly oftered themselves, under the command of Lieutenant 
Lalhrop. This party, though exposed the whole time to the 
enemy's fire, accomplished the enterprise without loss. Dur- 
ing the whole scene no lives were lost, and but two or three 
•wounded. The houses were several times set on fire by the 
rockets and shells, but were soon extinguished by the patrole. 
Many of the buildings were much damaged, and few remain 
without some marks of the bombardment. The judicious 
arrangements of general Gushing, and the spirit and alacrity 
with which the militia turned out to defend Stonington, and 
guard the other exposed points, prevented those ulterior 
operations of the British, which were apprehended by that 
g^^neral, and which no doubt, were designed as the ultimate 
object of the expedition. The citizens of Connecticut, when 
called upon to defend their dwellings from conflagration, 
manifested a zeal and bravery worthy of freemen in defence 
of their soil. The reception which the British met with at 
Stonington, deterred them from any further attempts on tbe 
coast of Connecticut. 

The constitution vests Congress with the power of pro- 
viding for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, 
for calling them forth to repel invasions, and governing them 
when in service, reserving the appointment of officers, and 
the authority of training the militia to the states respectively. 
In pursuance of these provisions, general regulations had 
from time to time been made by Congress, for organizing and 
diciplining the militia, and authorizing the President to caft 



348 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, m 

for their services in the cases provided by the constitution, 
^he manner in which these powers had been uniformly exe- 
cuted, had been for the President, through the war depart- 
ment, to require of the commander in chief of each state such 
detachments of the mihtia, as, in the opinion of the President, 
the occasion required. These requisitions had usually been 
promptly complied with, and the militia thus called into the 
service of the United States, subject in their general opera- 
tions to the orders of the President, as commander in chiefs 
given through the agency of officers of his appointment ; the 
officers of the line having the immediate command of the 
troops, being appointed under the state authorities. No pro- 
vision had been made for cases of non-compliance with these 
requisitions. They were of necessity addressed to persons 
not deriving their appointments or powers from the general 
government, or amenable to it in the discharge of their offi- 
cial duties. This singular principle of relying on the co- 
Operation of the state authorities, to carry into effect the 
measures of the general government, being almost the only 
relic of the old confederation, was in several instances at- 
tended with the most serious consequences. When a requi- 
sition was made on Governor Snyder for five thousand Pcnn- 
sylvania militia, for the defence of the capitol ; the rniiitia 
laws of that state were in such a situation, that not a soldier 
f.ould be obtained for the service ; and of the fifteen thousand 
militia required of the commanders in chief of the neighbour- 
ing states, for the defence of the city of Washington, the 
commanding general of the district states, scarcely as many 
hundred could be obtained. A division of the militia of Ver- 
mont were ordered into service by a United States officer, 
■without an application to the state authorities, to protect 
Flattsburgh, while General Hampton advanced to the St* 
Lawrence; Governor Chittenden considered this as an in- 
fringement of his constitutional rights, and, as commander in 
chief of the militia of that state, countermanded the order* 
When requisitions were made upon Governor Strong* for (h- 



•5(14. HISTORY OF THE LAT£ WAIL 3i'J 

tachmcnts of the militia of Massachusetts, to defend the ex- 
tensive sea-board of that state, and to place them under the 
direction of the commanding general of the district, he refused 
a compliance. There being no regular troops in the yicinity, 
and no provision for calling out the militia but through the 
agency of the state authorities, upon their refusal, the defence 
of that portion of the union devolved on the state government. 
Their resources were altogether inadequate to such an object; 
and their sea-board, especially the eastern section, left with- 
out defence, and possession taken by the British of such por- 
tions of it as suited their convenience with little resistance. 

Eastport taken. On the 11th of July a squadron under 
Commodore Hardy in the Ramilies, with four other ships of 
war, and three transports, with twelve hundred troops, took 
possession of Eastport; the garrison consisting of fifty men 
under Major Putnam, with six pieces of artillery, surrendered 
without resistance. This town is on Moose Island, on the 
western side of Passamaquoddy bay, containing one thousand 
inhabitants, is the most eastern village in the United States, 
ond opposite the province of New-Brunswick. The Island 
is five miles long, and one broad. The principal ship chan- 
nel, half a mile wide, is on the eastern shore of the island, be- 
tween that and Indian Island in the British territory. The 
British claimed Moose Island as belonging to the province of 
New-Brunswick, and proceeded to complete the fortifications, 
mount sixty pieces of cannon, establish an arsenal, and adopt 
other measures indicative of a permanent possession. The 
inhabitants were required to take the oath of allegiance to his 
Britanic majesty or quit the Island. Most of them preferred 
the former. Several vessels, and goods to the amount of 
three hundred thousand dollars, accumulated there for the 
purpose of being smuggled into the United Slates, were taken 
by the British, and most of them made prize of, notwithstand- 
ing their owners were ready to change their allegiance to 
save their projjerty. This position, thus strengthened, afford- 
ed a safe and convenient rendezvous for British shipping* 



360 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chap. la. 

Commodore Hardy, having accomplished this object, in a 
short period returned to his station off New-London. 

Castine, (J.r. taken. On the first of September, an expedi- 
tion, under Sir John Sherbrooke, governor of Nova Scotia, and 
Admiral Griffith, with forty sail, and several thousand troops, 
cutered the Penobscot, took possession of, and established 
their head-quarters at Castine. The small garrison with 
which the town was defended, discharged their guns on the 
approach of the British, blew up the fort, and retired. They 
next sent a detachment of six hundi"ed men to Belfast, which 
also submitted without resistance, and the following day pro- 
ceeded thirty-five miles up the river to Hampden, to which 
place the American frigate Adams, had letired on their ap- 
proach. Captain Morris, prepared for defen ;e by landing 
his guns, and erecting batteries at a commanding point below 
his ship. The militia assembled in considerable numbers, 
but fled on the approach of the enemy. Captain Morris be- 
ing deserted by the militia, after a few ineffectual fires, spiked 
his guns, burned his stores and prize goods, blew up his 
ship, and escaped with his crew across the wilderness to 
Portsmouth. The vessels captured in the Penobscot, ancl 
at the neighbouring ports, amounted to one hundred and 
twenty. The British commanders, having taken possession 
of the principal towns on the coast, published their procla- 
mation at Castine, declaring the conquest of all the country 
eastward of the Penobscot to Passumaquoddy bay by his 
Britanic majesty's arms, requiring the inhabitants of the dis- 
trict to give up their arms, and quietly submit to his majesty's 
government, promising on these conditions protection in their 
ordinary pursuits, assuring them that the municipal laws then 
in force should continue and be executed by the magistrates 
^s heretofore, until the further order of the British government. 
The territory thus occupied, comprehends forty-two flourish- 
ing towns, belonging to the state of Massachusetts, and 
nearly one half of the district of Maine. 



1814- HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 351 

Plunder on the Coast of Massachxisetis. While these 
transactions were going forward in the province of Maine, 
Sir George Collier in the Leander, with several other ships 
of war, was cruising along the coast of Massachusetts proper, 
carrying into efllect Admiral Cochrane's threats, and under 
his orders, burning and destroying all the small vessels within 
his reach, plundering the inhabitants, and laying the towns 
under contribution. At Sandwich, two thousand dollars were 
demanded as a ransom for the fishing vessels in that port ; 
twelve hundred for the salt works at Eastham, and four thou- 
sand for those at Brewster. The inhabitants along the coast 
of Cape Cod, possessing a barren territory, live principally 
by fishing, and are dependent upon that source to furnish the 
means of support ; their supplies are obtained only by water 
carriage from other ports, where they exchange their fish. 
On the 21st of September, Sir George addressed a note to the 
inhabitants of Portsmouth and its vicinity, informing them 
that he prohibited all fishing on the banks : that every ves- 
sel curing fish, or having salt on board for that purpose, 
would be destroyed : that small vessels only with fresh fish, 
would be permitted to enter the harbours on that coast; and 
that he should destroy all vessels exceeding thirty tons, or 
that should be curing their fish in the offing. These pro- 
ceedings entirely depriving the inhabitants of the means of 
support, reduced the country to the utmost distress. 

On the 29th of August, Admiral Hotham, off Nantucket, 
sent in a flag to the inhabitants of that island, stating that it 
had been represented to him that they were much distressed 
for want of provisions and necessaries of life, and that he was 
induced to propose Vo them, that if they would lay down their 
arms, and stipulate not to fight against his Britanic majesty's 
subjects during the war, he would permit a certain limited 
number of vessels to ply unmolested between the island, and 
the ports of the United States, and those of the British do- 
minions, for the purpose of procuring supplies for the inhabit- 
ants ; but that they would not be permitted to fish for end or 



352 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 15. 

whale, in or near his majesty's dominions. These humili- 
ating terms were acceded to by the inhabitants. Indeed the 
unprotected Islands and towns on the sea-board throughout 
the whole coast, were compelled to submit to such conditions 
as the British naval commanders saw fit to impose, which 
were more or less severe, as their caprice or avarice dictated. 
The foregoing examples furnish a correct specimen of the 
jirivations, insults, and depredations to which they were 
subjected. 

The country was kept in a state of constant alarm; the 
militia being repeatedly called out to such points as appeared 
to be threatened : and when called to the defence of a par- 
ticular place in sufficient numbers to protect it, a distant 
town could be threatened, plundered, or laid under con- 
tribution before any relief could arrive. The British, having 
no other important object for the employment of their ma- 
rine during the year 1814, continued this harassing and pre- 
datory mode of warfare alons the whole American coast. 
These events, so humiliating to the country, and distressing 
to the immediate sufferers, convinced every American of the 
necessity of a naval force adequate to the protection of the 
ports and waters of the United States, and united all parties 
in measures adapted to that object. More property was de- 
stroyed, and injury sustained on the coast, for the want of 
such means of defence, in a single year, than would have 
been sufficient to defray the whole expense. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Naval Operations in 1814. — Cruise of the Peacock. — Adams. — Wasp. — 
Privateer General Armstrong'. — Capture of the President. — Cruise 
of the Hornet ; of the Constitution. — Number and Value of Captures 
from the British in 1814. — Number and Value of Ships taken during- 
the War. — General Result of the Naval War. 

Naval Operations. The operations of the American navy 
in the year 1814, were considerably diminished by the loss 
of the Chesapeake and Essex frigates, and the continued 
blockade of the United States and Macedonian in the poi"t of 
New-London. The same caution was observed also this 
season by the British commanders, in avoiding a rencontre 
with the American frigates on equal terms. Notwithstanding 
these disadvantages, the American naval character was fully 
supported by the skill and bravery of the commanders, and 
their crews. In every instance they sought a battle, when it 
could be had on any thing like equal grounds, and their uni- 
form success bore honourable testimony to their skill and 
valour. American seamanship was often as fully put to the 
test in evading a contest, where the superiority of their ene- 
my made it an imperious duty, as in meeting him when a com- 
parison of their relative force justified a rencontre. But the 
Americans fought only for honour. No success within the 
compass of human means could make any sensible impression 
on the thousand ships of the British navy. On the contrary, 
every loss on the part of the Americans made a serious di- 
minution of their maritime force. 

Peacock. On the 10th of April, the sloop of war Peacock 
sailed from St. Marys on a cruise in the gulf of Mexico ; and 
oh the 29th, fell in with and captured the British brig Eper- 
vier, after an action of forty-five minutes. The vessels were 

45 



354 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. I'l 

of equal force, each mounting eighteen guns. The Epervier 
had eight men killed and fifteen wounded ; she had on board 
$120,000 dollars in specie to reward the valour of her captors. 
None were killed on board the Peacock and but two wound- 
ed. She and her prize arrived safe at Savannah on the 4th 
of May. After a short stay in port, the Peacock proceeded 
to a second cruise. This was directed to the Irish channel, 
and on the coast of Scotland, to intercept, and break up the 
intercourse between Great Britain and Ireland. On this 
ground she captured and destroyed fourteen vessels with their 
cargoes, estimated at seven hundred thousand dollars. After 
a cruise of five months, she made the harbour of New- York on 
the 20th of October. The effects of this cruise, aided by the 
enterprise of the American privateers in the Irish channel, 
were such, that the insurance on the coasting trade was raised 
*rom one to thirteen per cent. The ship owners and under- 
writers of Glasgow, on the 7th of September, presented a me- 
morial to the prince regent, in which they stated, that the 
number of American ships of war with which their channels 
were infested, the audacity with which they approached the 
British coasts, and the success with which their enterprise has 
been attended, have proved injurious to their commerce, 
humbling to their pride, and discreditable to the directors of 
the naval power of the British nation ; that the system of 
burning and destroying every article which there was fear of 
losing, diminished the chances of recapture, and rendered 
the necessity of prevention more urgent : they therefore pray 
the prince regent, that such measures may be adopted as shall 
effectually protect the trade on the coasts of the kingdom, 
from the numerous insulting and destructive depredations of 
their enemy. Similar representations from Liverpool, and 
several other maritime towns, bore honourable testimony to 
the enterprise and bravery of the American marine. 

Adams. The corvette Adams, Captain Morris, sailed from 
Lynnhaven bay on the 18th of January, on a cruise to the 
coast of Africa, where she made several prizes. On the 25th 



?814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 355 

of March, she captured, after a long chase, a valuable India 
ship ; but just as the crew were taking possession of her, a 
convoy of twenty-five sail, accompanied by two ships of war 
appeared in sight. The ships gave chase to the Adams and 
obliged her to abandon the prize, and seek her own safety by 
a precipitate flight. After a cruise of seven months, the Adams 
arrived on the coast of the United States, and made the porf 
of Castine. On the approach of the British before that place, 
she retired up the Penobscot to Hampden, where she was af- 
terwards destroyed with her prize goods, and stores to pre- 
vent her falling into the hands of the enemy. 

Wasp. On the 10th of April, the sloop of war Wasp, Cap- 
tain Blakeley, sailed from Portsmorth, New-Hampshire, on a 
cruise to the Enghsh channel. On the 28th of June, she felt 
in with the British sloop of war Reindeer ; an action com- 
menced at twenty minutes after three, at close quarters ; the 
Reindeer twice attempted to board, but was repulsed. At 
forty minutes past three, orders were given to board the 
Reindeer, which were promptly executed, and all resistance 
ceased. The British loss was twenty-three killed, including 
their commander. Captain Manners, and forty-two wounded ; 
the American, five killed and twenty-one wounded. The 
Reindeer mounted eighteen guns, the Wasp twenty-tvV^o. Af- 
ter taking out the prisoners, their baggage, and such stores as 
would be received on board the Wasp, the Reindeer was 
blown up. Captain Blakely then put into L'Orient, for the 
purpose of repairing his ship, and obtaining supplies. Be- 
tween the first of May, and the 6th of July, he took and de- 
stroyed eight sail. On the 1st of September, he fell in with 
the British brig Avon ; an action commenced at half past nine 
in the evening, and at twelve minutes past ten the Avon sur- 
rendered. Before Captain Blakely had taken possession, 
another sail appeared close on board, when orders were given 
for immediate action. At this moment two more sail appeared 
standing for the Wasp, one on the lee quarter, and one astern. 
Orders were then given to make sail from the enemy, and tbe 



35(3 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 1G 

Wasp effected hrr escnj)e. After leaving L'Orient, Captain 
Blakcly made six jirizes ; live of Avhich he sunk, and sent one 
into port. From that time the Wasp has never been heard 
of; she doubtless foundered at sea, and her brave crew per- 
ished. 

Privateer General Armstrong. On the 26lh of September, 
the American privateer brig General Armstrong, Captain 
Reid, came to anchor in the port of Fayal, one of the Azores, 
a Portuguese Island in the Atlantic. On thesameday the Plan- 
tagenct seventy-four, and the Rota and Carnation, British ships 
of war, suddenly appeared in the reads. At dark, Capt. Reid 
warped his ship in under the guns of the fort for protection ; 
at eight o'clock he observed four beats from the ships filled 
with armed men approaching him ; after warning them to keep 
off, he fired into the boats, killed seven men, and compelled 
ihem to return. At midnight twelve large boats armed with 
swivels, carronades, and muskets, attacked the brig, and after 
a severe action of forty minutes, the contest ended in a total 
defeat of the party, a partial destruction of the boats, and a 
severe loss of men. Among the killed were the first lieuten- 
ant of the Plantagent t, ilie commandant of the party, and tuo 
lieutenants and one niiilshi|iman of the Rota. It was estimat- 
ed by the spectators on shore, that the boats contained four 
hundred men, and that more than half of them were killed or 
wounded. Several boats were destroyed, two remained 
along side of the Armstrong, loaded with their dead and dy- 
ing, only seventeen from these two boats reached the shore. 
The British acknowledged a loss of one hundred and twenty 
killed. The sloops Thais and Calipso, were loaded with the 
wounded and sent to England. Immediately after the first 
attack, Mr. Dobney the American consul applied to the gov- 
ernor of Fayal, to enforce the priviliges of a neutral port in 
favour of the American ship. The governor expressed his in- 
dignation at what had passed, but was unable with his means 
to resist such a force. His remonstrances to the British com- 
mander \ver$ answered by an insulting refusal. On the 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 357 

morning of the 27lh, one of the ships took a station near the 
shore, and commenced a heavy cannonade on the brig. Cap- 
tain Reid, finding further resistance unavaihng, partially de- 
stroyed the brig, and went on shore with his crew ; the 
British then set her on fire. In this attack not only the priv- 
ileges of neutrality, but the safety of the town was wholly 
disregarded. Several of the inhabitants were dangerously 
wounded, and a number of houses destroyed. 

Early in the summer, the frigates United States and Ma- 
cedonian were lightened, removed several miles farther uj) 
the Thames, and dismantled. Captain Diddle, in the Hornet, 
was left in the river with orders to escape to New-York if any 
possible chance offered. About the middle of November, 
he eluded the vigilance of the blockading squadron, and an- 
chored safe in New-York harbour. Commodore Decatur and 
his crew were transferred to the President Frigate then pre- 
paring for a cruise to the East Indian seas. The squadron 
destined for this expedition consisted of the President, the 
Hornet, the Peacock, the Tom-Bowline, and a private armed 
merchant brig. The ships were prepared for sea by the 
middle of December, but were so closely watched by a muchj^- 
larger squadron in the offjng, that no opportunity presented »^v-^ 
of sailing, until the 1 3th of January, when all the ships exccjit ^*^''' 
the President, succeeded in getting to sea with orders to ren- 
dezvous at the island of Trislran d'Acunha, on the coast o\' 
South America, and there wait the arrival of the President. 

Capture of the President Frigate. On the next day Com-^ 
modore Decatur attempted to go out ; in passing the bar, ow- 
ing to some mistake of the pilot, his ship grounded, and con- 
tinued beating in that situation for two hours. She sustained 
so much injury that the commodore would have put back for 
repairs, buta strong westerly wind prevented. At ten o'clock 
in the evening, she cleared the bar, and proceeded a distance 
of fifty miles along the south shore of Long Island, and then 
bore away for the Brazils. At five o'clock in the morning of 
the 15th, three ships were discovered ahead ; the commodore 



368 



HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cmaf. 10. 



immediately hauled his wind, and passed to the north of them. 
At day light four ships were discovered in chase, one on each 
quarter, and two astern ; the leading ship appeared to be a 
razee. At noon the wind became light and baffling ; the razee 
fell astern, but the next ship in pursuit had gained considera- 
bly on the President. Commodore Decatur then lightened 
the ship of every thing not necessary for immediate defence, 
kept his canvass constandy Avet, and crowded every sail to 
escape. At three in the afternoon, the Endymion fifty gun 
ship being favoured by a good breeze came within shot, and 
commenced,Aring her bow guns. At five she obtained a po- 
sition at half point blank shot on the President's starboard 
quarter. In this situation the Endymion was cutting up the 
President's sails and rigging without exposing herself to any 
injury. The commodore then shifted his course to the south 
for the purpose of bringing the Endymion abeam. The ships 
continued a southerly course, and closely engaged for two 
hours and an half, when the Endymion became dismantled, 
and dropped out of the action. The President then resumed 
her former course with a view of clearing the squadron. At 
eleven o'clock at night, two fresh ships, the Pomona and 
Tenedos, came up, and opened their fire ; the Pomona on 
the larboard bow within musket shot, and the Tenedos taking 
a raking position tw^o cables length astern. The razee and 
a brig which had joined the squadron, had also arrived within 
2:un-shot. In this situation the commodore reluctantly sur- 
rendered his ship. The loss on board the President was 
twenty-five killed, and fifty-five wounded. She was carried 
into Bermuda, wdiere the commodore and most of the officers 
were paroled. 

Cruise of the Horml. The remainder of the American 
squadron proceeded towards their place of rendezvous. On 
the 16th, the Hornet parted from the other ships ; and on the 
23d, near her anchoring ground, she fell in with the British 
sloop of war Penguin. An action commenced at forty min- 
utes past one in the afternoon, at musket distance ; at two, the 



nu. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 359 

Penguin bore up apparently with the intention of boarding- 
and ran her bowsprit between the main and mizen rigging of 
the Hornet, on the starboard quarter, affording a fair oppor- 
tunity to board, but no attempt was made. An incessant 
and destructive fire was kept up from the Hornet, until the 
commanding officer of the Penguin called out that he had 
surrendered, when Captain Biddle directed his men to cease 
firing. While he was on the tafferil inquiring if they had 
surrendered, he received a ball in the neck; the ships then 
separated, and while the Hornet was wearing to give a fresh 
broadside, they again called out from the Penguin that they 
had surrendered, and Captain Biddle took possession of her 
in just twenty-two minutes from the commencement of the 
action. The Penguin mounted nineteen guns, and had a com- 
plement of one hundred and thirty-two men. Her loss was 
fourteen killed, including their commander, Captain Dickinson; 
and twenty-eight wounded. The loss on board the Hornet 
was one killed, and eleven wounded. Captain Biddle finding 
it impossible, from the crippled state of his prize, to send her 
into the United States, ordered her to be scuttled and sunk, 
and proceeded to his anchorage, at the island of Tristran 
d'Acunha. After M'Donald, the first lieutenant of the Pen- 
guin, had repeatedly called out that he had surrendered, and 
the Hornet had ceased to fire, two men on board the Penguin 
took aim and fired at Captain Biddle, and the man at the 
helm; two marines on board the Hornet observing this, 
levelled their pieces and shot both the assassins dead. 

The squadron, after waiting on the coast of Brazil, the 
period designated by their instructions, and not hearing from 
the President, sailed for the Indian ocean. In Lat. 38i S., 
and Lon. 33 east: on the 27th of April, a British ship of the 
line appeared in sight, and gave chase. The American ships im- 
mediately separated, and the chase continued in pursuit of the 
Hornet. At nine o'clock P.M. the chase continuing to gain upon 
him, Captain Biddle lightened ship ; by day-light on the 29th, 
the enemy was within gun shot on his lee quarter, and at seven. 



.160 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. J 6. 

hoisted the English Jack, and a rear admiral's flag, and com- 
menced firing. At eleven, Captain Biddle threw overboard all 
his armament, and every thing that could be spared from the 
ship ; the British continuing within fair range, and constantly 
firing. Fortunately the fire deadened their wind, and at sun- 
set, they were four miles astern ; at day-light the next morn- 
ing, twelve miles ; and at eleven o'clock, entirely out of 
sight. The Hornet, now deprived of her armament, and 
short of provisions, shaped her course for St. Salvador, where 
she heard the news of peace, and returned to New- York. 

Cruise of the Constitution. The Constitution, Captain 
Stewart, left Boston harbour on the 1 7th of December, on a 
cruise to the western islands, and the coast of Portugal. On 
jhe 20th of February, sixty leagues eastward of Madirea, 
she fell in with the Cyanne and Levant, British ships. At six 
in the afternoon the action commenced by broadsides from all 
the ships at three hundred yards distance. After an action of 
forty-five minutes, the Cyanne surrendered and was taken 
possession of by Captain Stewart; the Levant at this time 
endeavouring to escape. Having secured his prize. Captain 
Stewart immediately went in pursuit of the other ship, then 
in sight to the leeward : at nine o'clock came up with her, 
and exchanged broadsides. The Levant then crowded all 
iiail, the Constitution in chase firing her bow guns; at ten the 
Levantsurrendered. The two British ships mounted fifty-five 
guns, and were manned with three hundred and thirty-^x 
men. Their loss was thirty-five killed, and forty-two wound- 
ed. The Constitution had three killed, and twelve wounded. 
The British ships were just out from Gibraltar, bound to 
Madirea with supernumeraries, rigging, and equipments, for 
a British ship building at the western islands. February 21stj 
the three ships stood to the westward, and on the 23d made 
Porto Santo, one of the Madeiras, and continued under short 
cruising sail until the 8th of March ; when they anchored in 
port Praya, in the Island of St. Jago. At noon, on the 12th, 
the British ships Leander, Acasta. and Newcastle, which had 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 36} 

been in search of the Constitution during her whole cruise, 
-appeared off the harbour. Captain Stewart, apprehending 
that a neutral port would afford him no protection, immedi- 
ately slipped his cables, and put to sea with his prizes. The 
British made all sail in pursuit. At one, Captain Stewart 
observing the Cyanne to fall astern, gave a signal for her to 
tack, and sepSrate. Without regarding the Cyanne, the chase 
was continued after the Constitution and Levant. At three, the 
Levant, also falling astern, was ordered to tack and return 
to port. The Bintish ships then gave up the chase of the 
Constitution, and pursued the Levant into Porto Prava, and 
took her, under the guns of a Portuguese fort. The Cyanne 
arrived at New-York on the 15th of April, and the Consti- 
tution on the I st of May. 
I General Result of the Naval War. The number of British 
vessels of every description, captured and sent into port, or 
destroyed during the year 1814, including several taken 
after the conclusion, but before notice of the peace, amounted 
to oine hundred and four. The whole number taken during the 
war, exclusive of those which had been re-captured, was six- 
teen hundred and thirty-four, carrying three thousand one 
hundred and thirteen guns, and twelve thousand two hundred 
and fifteen men,* The loss of these ships to the British na- 
tion, 'estimating each vessel, cargo, and equipments, at the 
time of sailing, at an average of forty thousand dollars, 
amounted to sixty-five millions, three hundred and sixty thou- 
sand dollars. One hundred and seventy of these captures 
were made by the public armed ships of the United States ; 
the residue by privateers. Ninety-eight of these prizes were 
ships of war belonging to the British navy ; the residue were 
the property of British subjects. 

/The British captured at sea and on the lakes during the 
war, twenty national armed ships, and twenty-two gun-boats. 
They also took or destroyed two hundred and twenty-eight 



Niles's Weekly Register. 
46 



362 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. i>i. 

American privateers. The whole number of merchant ves- 
sels captured or destroyed, amounted to thirteen hundred and 
ninety-eight. Seventy of these were in the British ports at. 
the declaration of war, and there detained and made prizes; 
a great portion of the others were destroyed in the American 
ports, dismantled and without cargoes. Eighteen thousand 
four hundred and thirteen American seamerJ were made 
prisoners during the war, and two thousand five hundred and 
forty-eight detained as prisoners of war, being American sea- 
men in British ports at the declaration of war, or impressed 
seamen, who refused to serve, and gave themselves up as 
prisoners.* Although the number of captures on either side 
was nearly equal, yet as those taken from the British were 
sea vessels, with full cargoes, and a great portion of the 
Americans were mere hulls laid up in port ; the balance in 
value was greatly in favour of the latter. Indeed, had it not 
have been for the unsuccessful attempt to conquer the Cana- 
das, the citizens of America might have congratulated them- 
selves that the war had in some measure reimbursed to them, 
from the spoils of the commerce of their enemies, the losses 
they had sustained from Brttish aggressions. 

This result of the naval war, so unexpected to Great 
Britain, considering the vast difference between the maritime 
strength of the two nations, was highly honourable to the 
enterprise, skill, and valour of the American marine. At the 
commencement of the contest, Great Britain affected to de- 
spise the American stripes, and boasted that she would in a 
few montlis drive them from the ocean. Her chagrin and 
disappointment was only equalled by her former pride and 
boasting, when she saw several of her finest frigates yield to 
American valour, and upwards of sixteen hundred of her 
ships strike their flags to a despised enemy. 



* British Admiralty's Report to the House of Commons, Febrnary 1st. 
1815. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

(jfCuerai Wilkinson retires from the French Mills. — Affair of lia Cole 
Mill. — State of the British and American Navy on Lake Ontario. — 
Attack on Oswego.— Burning of Long Point. — General Brown takes 
the "Command on the Niagara Frontier. — Fort Erie surrenders; — 
Battle of Chippewa. — Death of General Swift. — Burning of St, Da- 
%'ids. — Battle of Niagara. — Capture of General Riall. — Exchange of 
General Drummond's Aid,for the Corpse of General Brown's, — Gener- 
al Gaines takes the Command. — Assault on Fort Erie. — Explosion. — 
Sortie on the British Works. — The Seige raised. — ^General Izard ar- 
rives with reinforcements and takes the Command. Retires from 
Fort Erie.— General Result of the Campaign on the Niagara, 

Northern Army remove from French Mills. After the 
abandonment of the Montreal expedition, General Wilkin- 
son remained with his army at their cantonments at the 
Trench Mills until the 13th of February. At this point they 
were exposed to a joint attack from the British on the St. 
Lawrence, and at Montreal, Avithout works of defence. 
There was here no other object than their own encamp- 
ment to defend; they were sixty miles from their nearest 
depot of provisions, and the important posts of Sackett's Har- 
bour and Plattsburgh were in an unprotected state. The 
latter was threatened with an attack from the enemy in the 
neighbourhood, and sent a pressing request to General Wil- 
kinson for succours. No reason was ever assigned why, under 
these circumstances, this army was encamped three months at 
the French Mills, other than to cover the disgrace of an imme- 
diate retreat, and to amuse the country with the prospect of 
another expedition against Montreal in the spring, which was 
never intended to be executed. Towards the last of Jan- 
uary, the commanding general began to remove his artillery 
and heavy baggage to Plattsburgh, and on the 13th of Febru- 
ary, broke up his encampment, destroyed his boats, and bar- 



,364 HiSTOKl OF THE LATE WAR. €hap. IT, 

racks, and wilh ihc main body, proceeded to that place. 
General Brown with one division took the route to Sacketl's 
harbour. The British, on learning these movements, came 
out in force from Montreal, and pursued the first division a> 
for as Chateaugay four corners. The snow on both routes was 
of three feet depth ; the march was slow and fatiguing.,, but 
finally accomplished by both divisions without loss. A part 
of the troops were cantoned at Plattsburgh, and one division 
of them crossed the lake to Burlington. 

.Assault on La Cole Mill. General Wilkinson, desirous 
of distinguishing himself by some important manoeuvre, before 
he left the army of the north, on the 30th of March, entered 
Canada a second time, with the main body, and advanced as 
far as Odietown, a few miles within the enemy's territory. 
Here he was met by the British in considerable force, had a 
sharj) skirmish, and drove them back as far as La Cole 
mill. This was a large stone building, three stories higfe. 
within and behind which, the British took a position of per- 
fect security. The American artillery, consisting of a Hvelve 
and an eighteen pounder was ordered up to dislodge them. 
Owing to the badness of the roads, the carriage of the latter 
failed, and only the lighter piece could be brought up^ Thrs 
was stationed in front, and within musket distance of the 
mill, and commenced a cannonade upon the building, which 
was continued an hour and a half without intermission, and 
without efl'ect. Finding that no impression could be mada 
on the mill, and that the heavy ordnance could not be 
brought up, the troojis returned the same evening to Olde- 
town, and the next day to Plattsburgh. The American ar- 
tillerists stood with great bi-avery and firmness before this 
fortress, directing their fire with the utmost precision against 
its impenetrable walls, observing every ball to hit its object, 
and rebound without effect. They were exposed, during the 
whole time, to the deliberate aim of the garrison ; almost all 
those immediately engaged in the management of the piece, 
irere either killed or w^unde^^ Captain M'Pherson who com- 



1»14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. J6a 

mandcd, and Lieutenant Lanohue were both dangerously 
wounded ; the latter shot through the breast, and the former re- 
ceived a woundjustunder the chin, whichhe bound up with his 
handkerchief, and continued at his piece until a second shot 
brought him to the ground. The whole American loss was 
eight killed, and sixty-six ^yvounded. The British made two 
attempts to take the piece, but were repulsed with firmness. 
Their whole loss in these sorties, and in the skirmish at Odle- 
town, was ten killed, and forty-six wounded. The stone 
mill expedition, if it had any other object than that of putting 
to the test American valour, and obtaining a laurel for the 
commanding general, was designed to seize and fortify 
Rouse's point, a position on the Sorrel river, which com- 
manded the entrance into lake Champlain, and might prevent 
the British ■flotilla which lay below at the Isle anx Noix from 
entering the lake. This movement was declared to be not. 
ill pursuance of the views of the war department, and the 
general soon afterwards retired from the service. His con- 
duct, during his command in the north, was subjected to the 
examination of a court martial ; before whom he proved thaf 
during a great part of the time while the most important meas- 
ures were in operation, he acted under the immediate orders 
of the war department, then with the army, and of course nor 
personally responsible ; that on General Hampton's failing to 
join him, who had never been called to account for disobedi- 
ence of orders, it was inexpedient to make the attempt ou 
Montreal ; that his encampment, and stay at the French mills, 
was agreeable to the views of the war department, and had 
been approved ; and that his other measures were not of that 
decisively unmilitary character as to deserve the censure ot" 
the court : he was therefore acquitted. 

Ship Building on Lake Ontario. Great exertions were 
made both by the British and American governments, to ob- 
tain the naval ascendancy on lake Ontario. A contest in 
ship building on these waters commenced in 1813, and was 
continued during the year 1814, which, if the war had lasted, 



3(j6 HISTOKY of the LATE WAR. Chap i >• 

must have progressed to an uiiliiiiited extent. Two large 
brigs of war, of five hundred tons each, were built, equipped, 
and put into service by the last of April, by the Americans- 
The ship Superior, fitted to carry sixty-six guns, was launched 
on the 1st of May, in eighty days from laying her keel. Equal 
exertions were made on the part of the British. On the 1st 
of June, 
The American Lake navy consisted The British force on the lake con- 

of the sisted of the 

Superior, 66 guns. Prince Regent, 62 gun>- 

Pike, 28 Princess Charlotte, 44 

Madison, 25 Wolf, 23 

Jefferson, 23 Royal George, 24 

Jones, 23 Melville, 22 

Sylph, 22 Earl Moira, 18 

Oneida, 18 Brig Prince Regent,12 

Lady of the Lake, 2 Sir Sidney Smith, 12 



207 guns. 222 gun.-. 

In addition to these, both parties had a considerable num- 
ber of gunboats and other small craft. The British had on 
the stocks a shij) calculated for a hundred guns, and the 
Americans one for a hundred and twenty. 

A considerable quantity of naval stores destined for the 
ileet, and essentially necessary to complete the armament ot 
the Superior, was deposited at Oswego falls, twelve miles up 
the river from the old French fort at its mouth. Colonel 
Mitchell, with three hundred men, was ordered to the fort to 
cover these stores. He arrived on the 30th of April, and 
found it in a defenceless situation, with only five guns and bi\t 
two of those mounted. 

Attack on Oswego, Before he had time to prepare for de- 
fence, a British force, destined to destroy the stores, consisting 
of four large ships, three brigs, and a number of gun boats, 
appeared otf the harbour, and at one o'clock on the 5th of 
May, fifteen boats filled with troops attempted to land. Co-' 



Iiil4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Slil 

ionel Mitchell, planted a battery near the shore, with which he 
prevented the landing, and took one of the boats. At day 
break the next morning, the ships anchored abreast of the 
fort, and commenced a cannonade which lasted three hours, 
while the troops eftected their landing. The British landed 
fifteen hundred men, and were gaining the rear of the fort, 
when Colonel Mitchell, having withstood their attack for half 
an hour, being overpowered by numbers, retreated in good 
order to the falls. The enemy then took possession of the 
fort, demolished it, destroyed what stores they^ found therein, 
burned the barracks, and returned to Kingston. The Amer- 
ican loss was six killed, and sixty-three wounded and missing. 
The British acknowledge a loss of nineteen killed, and seven- 
ty-five wounded. The destruction of the naval stores at the 
falls, the main object of the expedition, was prevented. Cap- 
tain Woolsey was immediately afterwards despatched with a 
number of batteauxto transport these stores to Sackett's Har- 
bour. The British, having at this time the command of the 
lake, and blockading the harbour, rendered this an underta- 
king of extreme difficulty and hazard. On the 28th of May, 
Captain Woolsey put the stores consisting of thirty-four heavy 
ship cannon, ten cables, and many hght articles, on board his 
boats, and took them down the rapids. Having despatched a 
lookout boat, and being informed that there was no enemy on 
the coast, he proceeded to the mouth of the river. Here he 
distributed a guard of one hundred and fifty riflemen among 
the boats, and directed a company of one hundred and thirty 
Oneida Indians, to keep along the shore near the flotilla. Thus 
arranged, he proceeded to Sandy Creek, and reached it at 
noon of the 29th, with the loss of one boat. Here he pushed 
his boats two miles up the river, and on the morning of the 
30th at six o'clock, the British were discovered ap- 
proaching the mouth of the creek. Captain Woolsey immc 
diately disposed of the riflemen and Indians in ambush half a 
mile below the boats under Major Appling. At ten the British 
landed and marched up the creek, at the same time pushing 



3G8 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. IT. 

along with them seven armed boats ; when they had arrived 
at the place of ambuscade, and in view of Woolsey's tlotilla. 
considering their prize as certain, they gave three cheers, and 
were rushing on : at this instant Major Appling with his men 
rose upon them, and after a smart skirmish of ten minutes, 
captured every boat and man of the party. The fruits of this 
victory were seven armed boats captured, fourteen British 
killed, and one hundred and sixty-one prisoners, without the 
loss of a man on the part of the Americans.* From this point 
the stores were transported by land, a distance of sixteen 
miles, to the harbour, and arrived on the 10th of June. The 
difficulties and embarrassments attending the obtaining of 
sufficient supplies in season, detained the fleet in the harbour 
until the 1st of August. 

Long Point. At the village of Dover on Long Point, on 
the Canada shore of lake Erie, was a valuable set of flour 
mills, and a large collection of wheat and ftour, from which 
the troops on the Niagara frontier received considerable sup- 
plies. On the 15th of May, Colonel Campbell, of the 19th 
infantry, with a detachment of five hundred men, crossed over 
from the village of Erie on the south shore of the lake, de- 
stroyed the flour, burned the mills, and the stores and 
<lwelling-houses of the town. On General Brown's arrival at 
Buffalo, he ordered Colonel Campbell to be arrested, and 
tried by a court martial, for destroying private property of the 
enemy, contrary to the principles upon which the American 
government conducted the war. Colonel Campbell acknowl- 
edged that the expedition was undertaken on his own respon- 
sibility, without the knowledge or direction of the govern- 
ment. The court martial justified the destruction of the flour 
and the mills, as a measure necessary to prevent supplies for 
the army, and condemned the destruction of the dwelling- 
houses and other property of the citizens. In their decision, 

* Captain Woolsey's report 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE VVAR. 369 

however, they remark that the citizens of Dover assisted in 
the burning of Buffalo, which palhated, though it did not ex- 
cuse, the measure. 

Niagara Frontier. After the desolation of the Niagara 
frontier in 1813, there appeared to be nothing for the parties 
to contend for in that quarter. No object could be obtained 
by a victory on either side, but the temporary occupation of a 
vacant territory ; yet both parties seemed to have selected 
this as the principal theatre on which to display their military 
prowess in the year 1814. Lieutenant General Drummond, 
governor of Upper Canada, concentrated the forces of that 
province at fort George, and retained the possession of Niag- 
ara. The American Generals Smyth, Hampton, Dearborn, 
and Wilkinson, under whose auspices the campaigns of 1812 
and 13, on the Canada border, were conducted, had retired 
from that field ; and General Brown was appointed ma- 
jor general, and, with the assistance of Brigadiers Scott 
and Ripley, designated to the command of the Niagara 
frontier. He left Sackett's Harbour in May, with a 
large portion of the American troops, in consequence 
of which the important depots at that place and its vicin- 
ity were exposed to attacks from Kingston. On his ar- 
rival at Buffalo, calculating upon the co-operation of the On- 
tario fleet, he determined on an attempt to expel the British 
from the Niagara peninsula. With this view he crossed the 
river on the 3d of July, published a declaration addressed to 
the inhabitants of Upper Canada, stating that all whom he 
found engaged in the service of the enemy, would be treated 
as foes; those that remained at home peaceably, following their 
private occupations, would be treated as friends : public pro- 
perty of every description would be seized and held at the 
disposal of the commanding general ; that private property 
would be held sacred, and any plunderer who should be found 
violating his orders in this respect should suffer death. 

Fort Erie taken. On the same day he invested fort Erie, 
and summoned it to surrender, allowing the commandant iik6 

47 



370 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 1'- 

hours to answer the summons. At five in the afternoon the 
fort surrendered, and the prisoners, amounting toone hundred 
and thirty-seven, were removed to Buffalo. 

Battle of Chippewa. On the morning of the fourth, Gen- 
eral Scott advanced with his brigade and corps of artilleryr 
and took a position on the Chippewa plain, half a mile in 
front of the village, his right resting on the river, and his front 
protected by a ravine. The British were encamped in force 
at the village, hi the evening General Brown joined him 
with the reserve under General Ripley, and the artillery com- 
manded by Major Hindman. General Porter arrived the 
next morning, with the New- York and Pennsylvania volun- 
teers, and a number of Indians of the six nations. Early in 
the morning of the 5th, the British commenced a firing on the 
pickets. CajJtain Trott, who commanded one of them, hastily 
retreated, leaving one of his men wounded on the ground. 
General Brown instantly ordered him to retire from the army, 
and directed Ca])tain Biddle to assume the command of the 
])ickct, load it back to the ground, and bring off the wounded 
man ; which he occomplished without loss. At four in the 
afternoon. General Porter advanced, taking the woods in order 
to conceal his approach, and in the hope of bringing their 
pickets and scouiing pasties between his line of march and 
The American canip. In half an hour his advance met the 
light parties of the British in the woods on the left. These were 
driven in, and Porter, advancing near Chippewa, met the whole 
British force approaching in order of battle. General Scott, 
with his brigadeandTowser's artillery,met them on the plain, in 
front of the American encampmentj and was directly engaged 
inclose action with the main body. General Porter's com- 
mand gave wa}^, and fled in every direction, by which Scott'.-> 
left flank was entirely uncovered. Captain Harris, with his 
dragoons, was ordered to stop the fugitives, at the ravine, and 
form them in front of the camp. The reserve were now or- 
dered up, and General Ripley passed to the woods in left of 
the line to gain the rear of the eneiny ; but before this was ef- 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 371 

fected, General Scott had compelled the British to retire. 
Their whole line now fell back, and were eagerly pursued 
by the Americans. As soon as they reached the sloping 
ground descending towards the village, their lines broke, and 
they regained their works in disorder. The American troops 
pursued until within reach of the guns from the works ; when 
they desisted and returned to their camp. The British 
left two hundred dead on the ground, ninety-four wounded, 
beside those in the early part of the action, who were remov- 
ed back to the camp, and fourteen prisoners. The American 
loss was sixty killed, and two hundred and sixty-eight wound- 
ed and missing.* 

After the battle of Chippewa, the British retired to fort 
George; and General Brovvu took post at Queenston, where 
he remained some time, expecting reinforcements and aid from 
Sackett's Harbour, and calculating that with them he should be 
able to dislodge the British, and obtain possession of the Pe- 
ninsula. 

General SToift slain. On the 12th of July, Brigadier Gen- 
eral John Swift, of the New- York militia, with a detachment 
of one hundred and twenty volunteers, reconnoitered the 
British position and works at fort George, with a view of 
preparing for an investment of the fort. He surprised and 
took a picket guard of six men. After they were made pris- 
oners, one of them shot the general through the body. The 
alarm occasioned by the discharge of this gun, immediately 
brought to the spot a British patroling party of sixty. Gen- 
eral Swift immediately formed his men, advanced at their 
head, and commenced a successful engagement on the patrole, 
when he fell exhausted by the loss of blood ; the other 
officers, animated by this last example of their general, con- 
tinued the action, and drove the enemy into the fort. They 
then returned to camp, bearing their expiring commander in 

* General Brown's report to the secretary of wsv'.' 



372 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. Il 

iheir arms. He died the same evening, and was interred the 
next day with mihtary honours. 

On the 13th of July, General Brown wrote a pressing letter 
to Commodore Chauncey, informing him of his situation, and 
urging an immediate co-operation. He heard nothing from 
the fleet until the 1st of September, when he received an an- 
swer from the commodore, dated the 10th of August, stating 
that the fleet had not been in a situation to co-operate with 
him, that it could have aftbrded him no essential aid in any 
event ; that his fleet was destined to attack the British, and 
not to act a subordinate part to the land forces. This pro- 
duced a sharp reply from General Brown; the correspondence 
ended ; and the general and commodore pursued their differ- 
ent objects without any co-operation. 

Burning of St. Davids. On the 1 8th, Lieutenant Colonel 
Stone, was detached with a corps of volunteers to dislodge a 
party of British troops, who were near the village of St. Da- 
vids, four miles west of Queenston, watching and attacking 
the American reconnoitering parties. The British were rout- 
ed and driven in ; and soon after the action, the village was 
set fire to, and burned by some Americans, without the 
orders or knowledge of the commanding ofllicer. On the next 
morning, Colonel Stone received an order from General 
Brown, stating that the accountability for burning the houses 
at St. Davids, must rest with the senior officer : that it was 
directly contrary to the orders of government, and of the 
commanding general. The order concludes in these words, 
" Lieutenant Colonel Stone will retire from the army." 
Whether Colonel Stone was guilty of negligence in not pre- 
venting the conflagration, does not appear. But his friends 
coDsidered this proceeding, as a manifest usurpation of au- 
thority not warranted by any law •, they claimed that an officer, 
holding a commission under the President, holds it at the 
pleasure of the supreme executive, and no intermediate supe- 
rior officer, has a right to deprive him of his command, with- 
out 4he intervention of a court martial, where he may be tried 



KJi4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR 373 

by his peers, and have an opportunity of establishing his in- 
nocence. No person fit to bear a commission, would consent 
to hold one subject to the disgraceful condition of a dismissal 
at the will of an officer a grade or two above him. This con- 
duct of General Brown's passed without censure, and was al- 
luded to with approbation, in a letter from the secretary of 
state to Admiral Cochrane. 

On the 20th, General Brown advanced with his army to- 
wards fort George, drove in the outposts, and encamped near 
the fort, in the expectation that the British would come out 
and give him battle. On the 22d, he returned to his former 
position at Queenston ; here he received a letter from Gene- 
ral Gaines, informing him that the heavy guns, and the rifle 
regiment, which he had ordered from Sackett's harbour, togeth- 
er with the whole fleet, were blockaded in that port, and no 
assistance was to be expected from them. On the 24th, he 
fell back to Chippewa, and on the 25th, received intelligence 
that the enemy, having received large reinforcements from 
KingstOHj^were advancing upon him. The first brigade under 
General Scott, Towser's artillery, all the dragoons and mount- 
ed men, were immediately put in motion on the Queenston 
road. 

Battle of Niagara. On his arrival at the Niagara cataract, 
General Scott learned that the British were in force directly 
in his front, separated only by a narrow piece of wood. 
Having despatched this intelligence to General Brown, he 
advanced upon the enemy, and the action commenced at six 
o'clock in the afternoon. Although General Ripley with the 
second brigade. Major Hendman with the corps of artillery, 
and General Porter with the volunteers, pressed forward with 
ardour ; it was an hour before they could be brought up to 
his support, during this time his brigade alone sustained the 
conflict. General Scott had pressed through the wood, and 
engaged the British on the Queenston road, with the 9th, 1 1 th, 
and 12th regiments, the 25th having been thrown on the right. 
The fresh troops under General Ripley, having arrived, now 



374 lilSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, i:- 

advanced to relieve General Scott, whose exhausted brigade 
formed a reserve in the rear. The British artillery had taken 
post on a commanding eminence, at the head of Lundy'slane, 
supported by a line of infantry, out of the reach of the Amer- 
ican batteries. This was the key of the whole position ; from 
hence they poured a most deadly fire on the American ranks. 
It became necessary either to leave the ground, or to carry 
this post and seize the height. The latter desperate task was 
assigned to Colonel Miller. On receiving the order from 
General Brown, he calmly surveyed the position, and answered, 
" I WILL TRY, SIR," which cxprcssion was afterwards the 
motto of his regiment. The first regiment, under the com- 
mand of Colonel Nicholas, were ordered to menace the Brit- 
ish infantry, and support Colonel Miller in the attack. This 
corps, after a discharge or two, gave way and left him without 
support. Without regarding this occurrence. Colonel Miller 
advanced coolly and steadily to his object, amid a tremendous 
fire, and at the point of the bayonet, carried the artillery and 
the height. The guns were immediately turned upon the en- 
emy ; General Ripley now brought up the 23d regiment, to 
the support of Colonel Miller ; the first regiment was rallied 
and brought into line, and the British were driven from the 
hill. At this time Major Jessup, with the 25th regiment, was 
engaged in a most obstinate conflict, with all the British that 
remained on the field. He had succeeded in turning the 
British left flank. Captain Ketchum, with a detachment of 
this regiment, succeeded in gaining the rear of the British 
lines, at the point where Generals Drummond and Riall, with 
their suites, had taken their stations, and made them all prison- 
ers. The British oificers, mistaking this detachment for a 
company of their own men, were ordering them to press on 
to the combat, when Captain Ketchum stepped forward and 
coolly observed, that he had the honour to command at that 
time, and immediately conducted the officers and their suites, 
into the rear of the American lines ; General Drummond, in the 
ronfusion of the scene, made his escape. The British rallied 



1824. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 315 

under the hill, and made a desperate attempt to regain their 
artillery, and drive the Americans from their position, but 
without success ; a second and third attempt was made with 
the like result. General Scott was engaged in repelling these 
attacks, and though with his shoulder fractured, and a severe 
wound in the side, continued at the head of his column, en- 
deavouring to turn the enemy's right flank. The volunteers 
under General Porter, during the last charge of the British, 
precipitated themselves upon their lines, broke them, and 
took a large number of prisoners. General Brown, during 
the whole action, was at the most exposed points, directing 
and animating his troops. He received a severe wound on 
the thigh, and in the side, and would have given the command 
to General Scott, but on inquiring, found that he was severe- 
ly wounded. He continued at the head of his troops until the 
last effort of the British was repulsed, when loss of blood 
obliged him to retire ; he then consigned the command to Gen- 
eral Ripley. At twelve o'clock, both parties retired from the 
field to their respective encampments, fatigued and satiated 
with slaughter. The battle continued with but little inter- 
mission, from six in the afternoon, until twelve at night. Af- 
ter Colonel Miller had taken the battery, and driven the Brit- 
ish from the heights, and General Riall and suite had been ta- 
ken, there was a short cessation, and the enemy appeared to 
be about yielding the ground, when reinforcements arrived to 
their aid, and the battle was renewed with redoubled fury for 
another space of two hours ; much of this time the combat- 
ants were within a few yards of each other, and several times, 
officers were found commanding enemy platoons. Captain 
Spencer, aid to General Brown, was despatched with orders 
to one of the regiments ; when about to deliver them, he sud- 
denly found himself in contact with a British corps ; with 
great coolness, and a firm air, he inquired what regiment is 
this ? On being answered, the Royal Scotts, he immediatelyre- 
plied. Royal Scotts, remain asyouare ! the commandant of the 
corps, supposing the orders came from his commanding gen- 



376 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. It 

cral, immediately halted his regiment, and Captain Spencer 
rode off. Colonel Miller's achievement, in storming the bat- 
tery, was of the most brilliant and hazardous nature ; it was 
decisive of the events of the batde : and entitled him, and 
his corps to the highest applause ; most of the officers en- 
gaged in that enterprise were killed or wounded. The battle 
was fought to the west of, and within half a mile of the Niag- 
ara cataract. The thunder of the cannon, the roaring of the 
falls, the incessant discharge of musketry, the groans of the 
dying and wounded during the six hours in which the parties 
were engaged in close combat, heightened by the circum- 
stance of its being in the night, afforded such a scene, as is 
rarely to be met with in the history of human slaughter. The 
evcnins was calm, and the moon shone with lustre, when not 
enveloped in clouds of smoke from the firing of the contend- 
ing armies. Considering the numbers engaged, few contests 
have ever been more sanguinary. 

General Drummond, soon after the battle of the 5th, had 
been concentrating his forces, and receiving reinforcements 
from Kingston, for a general attack on the Amei'ican troops, 
and in the batUe of the 25th, they were all engaged to tho 
amount of five thousand ; many of them, troops selected from 
the flower of the army of Lord Wellington. General Brown 
had failed in receiving his expected reinforcements from Sack- 
ett's Harbour ; many of his Indians had left him, and most of 
his troops were soldiers of less than one year's experience. 
But the general had done every thing which his limited means 
could accomplish to ensure success. With the aid of General 
Porter, he had assembled a considerable force of militia and 
volunteers ; his whole army may be estimated at about four 
thousand. With the aid of his officers, he had instructed, and 
infused into them a spirit of bravery and discipline, which ena- 
bled them to meet, and successfully combat British veterans. 
This was unquestionably the most severe and bloody battle 
that was fought during the war. One-fiflh of the combatants 
on each side, were put hors de combat. On the American 



rCiU. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 377 

side, the commanding general, and the second in command, 
were severely wounded. On the British, their commander 
in chief was wounded, and for a few minutes a prisoner, and 
the second in command severely wounded and captured. 
General Brown states his loss to be, 

Killed, 171 

Wounded, 572 

Missing, 117 



860 



General Drumn\ond acknowledges a loss of, 

Killed, 84 

Wounded, 559 

Missing and Prisoners, - - - 235 



878 
On the morning of the 26th, Generals Ripley and Porter 
reconnoilered the battle ground, and found there parties of 
the British on the same errand. Neither Americans nor Brit- 
ish appeared disposed to renew the bloody scenes of the pre- 
ceding night. In their official reports, both claimed the vie. 
tory. But considering the number and nature of American 
troops compared with the British, the honours of the day un- 
questionably belong to the former ; the latter were the first 
to leave the field. From the reinforcements which they had 
recently received from Kingston, their army after the battle 
was evidently superior to the American ; and the latter under 
the command of General Ripley, on the 26th, fell back to 
fort Erie. General Brown retired to Buffalo, and General 
Scott to Batavia, to recover from their wounds. Captain 
Ambrose Spencer, son of the chief justice of New- York, and 
aid to General Brown, was mortally wounded in the action, 
and taken prisoner ; Captain Loring, aid to General Drum- 
mond, was also made prisoner, but not wounded. Soon after 
the battle, General Brown received a proposition from Gen- 
eral Drummond. for a mutual exchange of their aids. For ob- 

48 



378 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 17. 

vious reasons, it is not according to the usages of war, to 
offer or accept a wounded man in exchange for one who is 
well, but from motives of affection for his aid, and from respect 
to the feelings of his parents. General Brown was in this in- 
stance induced to listen to the proposition, and sent a flag to 
ascertain whether Captain Spencer was living. The flag 
was not permitted to see the prisoner, or communicate with 
his surgeon. On the return of the flag. General Brown sent 
the brother of Captain Spencer, with a note to General Drum- 
mond, introducing the brother, and requesting that he migh 
be'permitted to see and attend upon him, and assuring the 
general that Captain Loring, should be exchanged for Cap- 
tain Spencer if living, or for his corpse if dead. The brother 
returned the next day with the corpse, bearing a note from 
General Drummond, claiming the discharge of Captain Lor- 
ing ; which General Brown, faithful to his engagements com- 
plied with. 

British expedition to Black Rock, repulsed. At two o'clock 
in the morning of the 3d of August, a detachment of twelve 
hundred British, under the command of Colonel Tucker, cross- 
ed the Niagara at Squaw Island, a little below Black Rock, with 
a view of capturing General Brown, then confined at Buftalo 
with his wounds, recapturing General Riall, and destroying 
the stores. Major Morgan, who was stationed at the Rock 
with a battalion of riflemen, took a position behind Conjocta 
creek, destroyed the bridge, and commenced an attack on the 
British as soon as they arrived within rifle distance. After a 
conflict of two hours, the British were driven back, and com- 
pelled to recross the river, with the loss of six men taken, and 
several killed and wounded. On the 4th, General Gaines 
arrived from Sackett's Harbour, and took command of the 
^rmy during the confinement of General Brown. 

Fort Erie invested. As the Americans retired to fort Erie, 
the British advanced and invested the fort, taking a position 
two miles distant in front, and separated from it by a wood. 
Fort Erie is situated on the mar-gin of the lake, at its outlet 



iai4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 3'JS 

into ihe Niagara river ; being nearly a horizontal plain, fif- 
teen feet above the level of the water, it possesses no natural 
advantages. It was protected in front by a temporary par- 
apet, breastworks, entrenchments, and abattes, with two bat- 
teries mounting six field pieces. This small unfinished fort, 
with a twenty-four, eighteen, and twelve pounder, formed the 
north-east; aud the Douglass battery with an eighteen, and 
six pounder, near the edge of the lake, the south-east angle 
of the right of General Gaines's position on the 1 3th of August. 
His left was defended by a redoubt battery thrown up on a 
small ridge with six field pieces. His rear was open to the 
lake, bordered by a rocky shore of easy ascent. Captain 
Towson's artillery was stationed at the battery on the left. 
The fort was defended by Captain Williams, with Major 
Trimble's command of the 19th infantry ; the batteries in front 
by Captains Biddle and Fanning. The whole of the artillery 
was under the command of Major Hindman. Part of the 
veteran first brigade, late under the command of General 
Scott, were posted on the right, under the command of Colo- 
nel Aspenwall. The second brigade, under General Ripley, 
defended the left. General Porter's brigade of New- York, 
and Pennsylvania volunteers, with the riflemen, occupied the 
centre. On the 12th, General Gaines detached Major Mor- 
gan with his corps, to cut off a working party of the British, 
engaged in clearing the woods, and opening an avenue to the 
fort ; Major Morgan was killed at the head of his detachment, 
and the party returned without eflecting the object. The 
enemy succeeded in establishing their works within four hun- 
dred yards of the fort. On the evening of the 12th, they 
boarded and captured two schooners ; and on the morning of 
the 1 3th, commenced, and continued during the whole of that 
and the next day, a brisk cannonade, which was returned 
from the American batteries, but without any considerable 
effect on either side. The British having received consider- 
able reinforcements, were preparing for an assault. At sun- 
set on the 14th, one of their shells lodged in a small maga-^ 



380 HJSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chav 1"' 

zine which blew up, but without any injurious eflects. U 
occasioned a momentary cessation of firing, and was immedi- 
ately followed by a loud shout from the British troops, which 
was instantly answered by the Americans ; and Captain Wil- 
liams, amid the smoke of the explosion, renewed the contest 
by an animated discharge of the heavy artillery. 

Jssauli. General Gaines, expecting an assault in the course 
of the night, kept his men constantly at their posts. The 
night was dark, and the early part of it rainy ; at two o'clock 
ni the morning, the British columns enveloped in darkness, 
were distinctly heard approaching the American lines. The 
infantry under Major Wood, and Captain Towson's artillery 
opened a brisk fire upon them. The sheet of fire from this 
corps, enabled General Gaines to discover this column of the 
British, fifteen hundred strong, approaching the American left. 
The infantry were protected by a line of loose brush rcpre- 
scntiniran abattis boiderins; on the river. The British in at- 
tempting to pass round this, plunged into the water breast 
high. The commanding general was about to order a de- 
tachment of riflemen to su|)port Major Wood, but was assured 
by him that he could maintain his position without a rein- 
forcement. The British columns Avere twice repulsed, and 
soon afterwards (led in confusion. On the right, the lines 
were lighted by a briUiant discharge of musketry and cannon, 
which announced the ajjproach of the centre and left columns 
of the enemy. The latter met the veteran 9th regiment, and 
Burton's and Harding's companies of volunteers, aided by a 
six pounder, and v.erc rejiulsed. The centre column under 
Colonel Drummond, approached at the same time the most 
assailable points of the fort, and with scaling ladders ascend- 
ed the parapet, but were driven back with great carnage. 
The assault was twice repeated, and as often checked ; this 
column concealed by the darkness of the night, and the clouds 
of smoke which rolled from the cannon and musketry, then 
passed i-ound the ditch, repeated their charge, reascended 
tlicir ladders, and with their pikes, bayonets, and spears, fell 



1«J4. HISTORY OF TBE LATE WAR. Siil 

upon the artillerists. Most of the officers, and many of the 
men, received deadly wounds. Lieutenant M'Donough be- 
ing severely wounded, and in the power of the enemy, sur- 
rendered and demanded quarter ; Colonel Drummond, refus- 
ing it, drew a pistol and shot him dead. In a moment after- 
Avards, as he was repeating the order to give no quarters. 
Colonel Drummond was shot through the heart. The bas- 
tion was now in the possession of the British. The battle 
raged with increased fury on the right ; reinforcements were 
ordered and promptly furnished from Major Wood's corps on 
the left. Captain Fanning kept up a spirited and destructive 
tire from his artillery on the enemy as they were approaching 
the fort. Majors Hindman and Trimble, failing to drive the 
British from the bastion, with the remaining artillerists, and 
infantry, and Captain Birdsall's detachment of riflemen, rush- 
ed in through the gate-way, to the assistance of the right 
wing, and made a resolute charge. A detachment, under 
Major Hall, was introduced over the interior of the bastion, 
for the purpose of charging the British who still held posses- 
sion, but the narrowness of the passage, admitting only two 
or three abreast, prevented its accomplishment, and they 
were obliged to retire. At this moment, every operation was 
arrested by the explosion of the principal magazine, contain- 
ing a large quantity of cartridges and powder, in the end of a 
stone building adjoining the contested bastion. Whether this 
was the effect of accident or design, was not known. The 
explosion was tremendous, and its effects decisive. The 
British in possession of the bastion were destroyed in a mo- 
ment. As soon as the tumult accasioned by that event had 
subsided. Captain Biddle posted a field piece, so as to enfilade 
the exterior plain, and the salient glacis. Fanning's battery 
at the same time opened on the British who were now return- 
ing. In a few minutes they were all driven from the works, 
leaving two hundred and twenty-two killed, one hundred 
and seventy-four wounded on the field, and one hundred 
eighty-six prisoners. To these losses are to be added, those 



382 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAK. CuAr. if- 

killed on the left flank by Major Wood's infantry, and Tow- 
son's artillery, and floated down the Niagara, estimated in the 
official reports, at two hundred. The American loss during 
thebombardraent of the 13th and 14th, was nine killed, and 
thirty-six wounded, and in the assault of the night of the 14th, 
seventeen killed, fifty-six wounded, and eleven missing.* 

On the 2d of September, General Brown had so far re- 
covered of his wounds as to be able to resume the command ; 
and General Gaines was removed to Philadelphia to take 
charge of (he defence of the Delaware, as commanding gen- 
eral of the 4th military district. General Drummond's main 
body was encamped in a cleared field, surrounded with woods, 
two miles in front of fort Erie. This position was taken in 
order that that part of his force which was not on duty might be 
out of the reach of the guns of the fort, and of the artillery at 
Black Rock. His infantry was formed into three brigades of 
twelve hundred men each ; his works w^ere advanced within 
four hundred yards of the right of the American lines. One 
of the brigades, with a detachment of artillery, was stationed 
at this advance, and relieved by one of the other brigades 
each day, and the two at the encampment were held in con- 
stant readiness to support the advance, in case of an attack. 
The British had completed two batteries at this position, and 
nearly finished a third, w^hich threatened the fort with de- 
struction. 

Sortie. Early on the morning of the 17th, General Porter, 
%yith a large detachment, was ordered to penetrate through 
the woods by a circuitous rout, and get between the British 
main body and their batteries ; while General Miller was 
directed to take a position in the rarine, between the American 
lines and the batteries, and attack them in front. The ad- 
vance of General Porter's command, consisted of two hun- 
dred riflemen, under Colonel Gibson. The right column, ef 



General Gaines's report. 



i814. HISTORY OF TPIE LATE WAK. .V3.} 

ibur hundred infantry, commanded by Colonel Wood ; the 
left, under General Davis, of five hundred militia, designed to 
act as a reserve ; and to hold in check any reinforcements 
from the British main body. General Porter's corps car- 
ried the block-house in the rear of the third battery, by 
storm, the magazine was blown up, and the garrison made 
prisoners. The leaders of the three divisions under General 
Porter, all fell nearly at the same time ; Colonel Gibson, at 
the head of the riflemen, at the second battery, and General 
Davis, and Colonel Wood, in an assault upon the first. 
While these transactions were taking place in the rear of the 
enemy's works, General Miller in front, penetrated between 
the first and second batteries, and aided by the operations of 
General Porter in the rear, succeeded in carrying them. 
Within thirty minutes from the commencement of the action- 
two batteries, two block-houses, and the whole line of en- 
trenchments were in possession of the Americans ; and imme- 
diately afterwards, the other battery was abandoned by the 
British. General Ripley was now ordered up with the 
reserve, and at the close of the action, was dangerously woun- 
ded in the neck. Strong reinforcements from the British 
main body arrived while the Americans Avere engaged in de- 
stroying the works, and took part in the action. The object 
of the sortie being fully accomplished, the American troops 
were ordered to return to the fort. During the action. General 
Porter, in passing from the right to the left column of his 
detachment, accompanied] with only two or three officers, 
suddenly found himself within a few yards of a body of sixty 
British soldiers, who had just emerged from a ravine, and 
were hesitating which way to go. The general immediately 
advanced, and ordered them to surrender ; approaching the 
first man on the left, he took his musket, and pushed him 
towards the American lines : in this way he proceeded nearly 
through the whole company, most of the men voluntarily 
throwing down their arms, and retiring towards the fort : 



Ja4 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. K- 

when on a sudden, a soldier, whose musket the general was 
about to seize, presented the bayonet to his breast, and de- 
manded his surrender. General Porter seized the musket, 
and was about wrenching it from him, when he was seized by 
a British officer, and three or four men who stood in the ranks, 
and thrown on the ground. He succeeded in gaining his feet, 
when he found himself surrounded by fifteen or twenty men, 
with their guns presented at him, demanding his surrender ; 
by this time, several American officers, with a number of men 
were advancing to the scene of action. General Porter, now 
assuming an air of composure, and decision, told them they 
were now surrounded and prisoners, and if they fired a gun 
they should all be put to the sword. By this time a company 
of Cayuga riflemen had arrived, and after a momentary scene 
of confusion and carnage, the whole British party were killed, 
or made prisoners. The American loss was seventy-nine 
killed, and four hundred and thirty-two wounded and missing. 
The killed and wounded of the British, were estimated by the 
American general at five hundred. Three hundred and 
eighty-five prisoners were taken ; their advance works de- 
stroyed, and the garrison relieved from any further apprehen- 
sions of bombardment or assault. On the night of the 21st, 
General Drummond, after an investment of fifty-six days, 
raised the seige of fort Erie, broke up his encampment, and 
retired to his entrenchments behind the Chippewa. 

General Izard takes the Command. The Niagara frontier 
was treated, throughout this campaign, as the most important 
point. General Izard, who commanded the army at Platts- 
burgh, had been ordered with the main body, early in August 
To reinforce General Brown ; he proceeded to Sackett's Har- 
bour, and not deeming it safe to venture his troops by water, 
continued his route by land, with the main body, to his place 
of destination. After a fatiguing march of more than four 
hundred miles, over bad roads, he arrived at Butfalo on the 1st 
of October : being the senior major general, the command 
devolved on him, and General Brown took the command at 



J 814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 385 

the harbour. This change of the commanding generals was 
unfavourable to further operations on the frontier. General 
Brown had obtained an adequate knowledge of the country, 
and the perfect confidence of his troops ; General Izard was 
a stranger to both. 

Retires to Buffalo. After the departure of General Brown, 
General Izard, on examining the position of fort Erie, and 
comparing, as well as he was able, the relative strength of the 
the two armies, decided that it was inexpedient to attempt 
further offensive operations on the Peninsula, rem.oved the 
troops from fort Erie to Buffalo, and demolished the works. 
General Scott, on recovering his wounds, was appointed to 
the command of the 10th military district, embracing the dis- 
trict of Columbia, and the adjacent country. 
The campaign of eighteen hundred and fourteen,on the Niaga- 
ra frontier, fully demonstrated that American citizens furnished 
the choicest materials for an army; that when well disciplined, 
instructed in the art of war, and led by brave and enterpris- 
ing generals, they were fully able to meet on equal ground 
the best English troops. The same events fully proved the 
valour, enterprise, and military skill of General Brown, and 
the officers associated with him in the war, and retrieved the 
tarnished reputation of the American arms, on the Canada 
border, the two preceding campaigns. They also furnished 
abundant materials to amuse and flatter the citizens with the 
relation of deeds of heroic valour. They weakened the 
numerical strength of the British army about three thousand, 
and the Americans nearly the same ; and left both parties in 
possession of the same ground, which they occupied at the 
commencement of the campaign. 



•19 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Colonel Crogan's Expedition to Lake Huron. — Unsuccessful attempt 
on Michillimackinac. — Destroys the British Post at Nautawesago 
River. — Returns to Detroit. — Capture of two American Schooners on 
Lake Huron. — Arrival of Reinforcements at Quebec. — General 
Izard's army leaves Plattsburgh for Niagara. — General Prevost ad- 
vances in force from Montreal towards Plattsburgh. — Enters Platts- 
burgh, and encamps on the left of the Saranac — Waits the approach 
of his fleet. — Naval battle on the 11th of September, on the Bay of 
Plattsburgh. — M'Donough's Victory. — Simultaneous Attack on the 
American lines. — British attempt to cross the Saranac ; are repul- 
sed. — Retreat of the British Army from Plattsburgh. — Amount of the 
British and American Land and Naval Forces. — Losses in each Army 
and Navy. 

Expedition to Lake Huron, For the security of Detroit, 
and the Michigan territory, General M'Arthur, commandant 
of the 8th mihtary district, directed the establishment of a 
military post, called fort Gratiot, at the head of the straits 
of St. Clair, to secure the communication between Detroit 
and lake Huron. A squadron of five small vessels, under 
Commodore St. Clair, left Detroit about the first of July with 
a detachment of five hundred troops, under Lieutenant 
Colonel Crogan, the gallant defender of fort Stevenson, pass- 
ed the straits, and entered lake Huron on the Uth, taking 
with them the principal part of the garrison of fort Gratiot. 
They first proceeded to the British post of St. Joseph's, at 
the entrance of lake Superior; finding this post evacuated, 
they set fire to it, aiid proceeded to fort Michillimackinac, 
which they found strongly garrisoned. The British, Cana- 
dians, and Indians came out in numbers greatly superior to 
the Americans, attacked, and drove them back to their ships 



.388 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap, ib 

with (he loss of Major Holmes, the second in command, and 
twelve privates killed, and fifty-one wounded. 

While the navigation of lake Erie was in the possession oi 
the Americans, the channel of communication between Mon- 
treal and lake Superior, Michillimackinac and the British 
posts, to the north-west, was by the way of lake Simcoe and 
the Nautawesago river, to lake Hui-on. From the British 
depot at York, to the mouth of this river, the distance did not 
exceed one hundred and eighty miles ; much of the way was 
water passage forcanoes and small boats ; the British had here 
established a post, where considerable supplies for the north- 
west were deposited; these were to be transported in small ves- 
sels across lake Huron, to their places of destination. After 
Colonel Crogan's unsuccessful attempt on Michillimackinac, 
he proceeded to this place, and arrived at the mouth of the 
river on the 3d of August. Here he found a British schooner 
drawn a few hundred yards up the river, and protected by a 
battery covered by a block-house. On the 14th, he landed 
his artillery and drew it up near the block-house, and com- 
menced a fire, w'hich in a few minutes blew up the British 
works, and set fire to the schooner. On the 15th, he lefi 
the river and returned to Detroit, leaving two small vessels 
under the command of Lieutenant Turner, on lake Huron, to 
intercept the communication with the north-western posts, 
with orders to remain there as long as the navigation was 
open, and strictly blockade the Nautawesago. Lieutenant 
Worsly, who commanded the British schooner that had been 
burned, with twenty-two men, coasted round the lake in ca- 
noes, and reached Michillimackinac. While Lieutenant 
Turner commanded the navigation of lake Huron, the British 
posts to the west were suffering for the w^ant of supplies, and 
must have soon surrendered. Lieutenant Worsly applied to 
the commandant at Michillimackinac, for the aid of one hun- 
dred men, assuring him that with them he would bring in the 
American schooners. The men were furnished, both schoon- 



fyi4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 389 

ers captured, and carried into Michilliniackinac. An uninter- 
rupted communication was again opened from the depots at 
York and Montreal, to the western posts, and the important 
objects of Colonel Crogan's expedition defeated. 

Arrival of reinforcements at Montreal. About the 1st of 
August, the powerful reinforcements which had been ordered 
from the armies in Spain, to Governor Prevost's aid, arrived 
at Quebec, and were immediately pushed up to Montreal. 
Large detachments passed on to Kingston, and the Niagara 
frontiers. These demonstrations induced the order for Gen- 
eral Izard to proceed tojoin General Brown, with the main body. 
While the army were making this movement the only opportuni- 
ties for their active service were lost. Their brethren at Platts- 
burgh and Niagara were gathering laurels at the expense of 
much blood, while they were performing this circuitous march. 
Plattsburgh was the principal military and naval depot for 
the army of the north, and the flotilla on lake Champlain ; 
and at this period, contained a large quantity of military and 
naval stores. The defence of this post, after the departure 
of General Izard, devolved on General Macomb, with fifteen 
hundred regulars, and the neighbouring militia to be occasion- 
ally called on, as circumstances might render necessary. The 
force under General Prevost, at Montreal, within five days' 
march of Plattsburgh, at the time General Izard left that post 
for the Niagara frontier, was fifteen thousand men, most of 
them veterans of the armies of Spain. This state of things 
did not escape the observation of the British general. Im- 
mediately after the departure of Izard, Prevost came out with 
his whole force from Montreal, and took the road to Platts- 
burgh. On the 1st of September, he established his head- 
quarters at Champlain, within the United States, and fifteen 
miles distant from the American lines. Here he issued a 
proclamation in the usual style of invading generals, promising 
peace and protection to the unoffending inhabitants who re- 
mained at home, directing the civil magistrates to continue in 
the discharge of their duties ; and declaring that those only 



390 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, IS- 

who were found in arms should be treated as enemies. His 
instructions directed him to penetrate the United States by 
the way of Pittsburgh ; with the assistance of the fleet, which 
it was calculated by this time would have gained the command 
of the lake ; proceed to Ticonderoga, and from thence to Al- 
bany, or as far on the rout as was compatible with the safety 
of his army. 

British Force advance to Plattsburgh. In pursuance of these 
instructions, he advanced with slow and cautious marches 
towards Plattsburgh. General Macomb made every exertion 
to impede his progress, and prepare for the threatened attack. 
The mihtia of Washington, Warren, Clinton, and Essex coun- 
ties, were ordered out en masse. The militia and volunteers 
from the counties in Vermont, bordering on the lake, came in 
in great numbers. The bridges on the route which the Bri- 
tish must take, were broken up, the road abatted, and every 
possible impediment thrown in the way of their passage. On 
the 6th of September, the British advance was met at Batc- 
mantown, six miles from Plattsburgh by a corps of seven 
hundred militia under General Mooers. After some slight 
skirmishing, the militia discovered the New-York state dra- 
goons, a very handsome corps in red uniforms, rcconnoitering 
on the heights in their rear ; supposing them to be British 
troops who were endeavouring to cut them off, they broke 
and fled in every direction ; and on the same day the British 
advanced into Plattsburgh ; the right column led by Major 
General Powers, supported by General Robinson, and the 
left by General Brisbane. The whole under command of 
Sir George Prevost. The American troops retired to the 
south side of the Saranac, took up the bridges, and made 
breastworks of them on the south bank, and guarded the ford- 
ways. 

The village of Plattsburgh is pleasantly situated on the 
western shore of lake Champlain, on the margin of a bay. 
Ibrmed by the projection of Cumberland point into the lake. 
At the end of this point, is a high blufl", called Cumberland 



iai4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 391 

liead. The Saranac river comes in from the west, passes 
through the village, and empties into the bay. Several 
fsridges were erected over this river, near the village ; and 
three miles from its mouth, the river was fordable. Scouting 
and reconnoitering parties were constantly kept out on the 
British flanks to harass their march, and watch their motions. 
The American troops were posted in their works on the high 
grounds, on the south bank of the Saranac. General Macomb 
employed his men constantly in strengthening these works ; 
in order to excite emulation among them, he parcelled out 
different parts of the works to different corps, assuring them 
that the defence of that particular portion of the works on 
which each corps laboured, should be intrusted to them. 

Naval Battle on Luke Champlain. The American fleet, 
under Commodore M'Donough, lay at anchor in the bay, 
CD the right flank of the American lines, and two miles distant. 
Great exertions had been made by both parties to produce a 
superior naval force on this lake 5 the Americans at Otter 
Creek, and the British at the Isle aux Noix. On comparing 
their relative strength on the 1 1 th of September, the Ame- 
rican fteet consisted of the Saratoga, flag ship, mounting 26 
guns; Eagle, 20 guns; Ticonderoga, 17 guns; Preble, 7 
guns ; six galleys, of two guns each, 12 guns ; four of one, 4 
guns ; making in the whole, 86 guns : and eight hundred and 
twenty men. The British fleet consisted of the frigate Con- 
fiance, flag ship, mounting 39 guns; Linnet, 16 guns; 
Cherub, 11 guns ; Finch, 11 guns ; five galleys, of two guns 
each, 10 guns ; eight, of one, 8 guns, making in the whole 
95 guns : and one thousand and twenty men. 

The British land forces employed themselves from the 7th 
to the 11th, in bringing up their heavy artillery ; and strength- 
ening their works on the north bank of the Saranac. Their 
fortified encampment, was on a ridge a little to the west of the 
town, their right near the river, and their left resting on the 
lake, one mile in the rear of the village. Having determined 
on a simultaneous attack by land and water, they lay in this 



.VJ2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. Ih. 

position on the morning of the eleventh, waiting the approach 
of their fleet. At eight o'clock, the wished for ships appear- 
ed under easy sail, moving round Cumberland head ; and 
were hailed with joyous acclamations. At nine they anchor- 
ed within three hundred yards of the American squadron in 
line of battle ; the Confiance opposed to the Saratoga, the 
Linnet to the Eagle ; thirteen British galleys to the Ticon- 
deroga, Preble, and a division of the American galleys. The 
Cherub assistingtheConfiance andLinnet,and iheFinchaiding 
the galleys. In this position, the weather being perfectly clear 
and calm, and the bay smooth, the whole force on both sides 
became at once engaged. At an hour and a half, after the 
commencement of the action, the starboard guns of the Sara- 
toga were nearly all dismantled. The commandant ordered 
a stern anchor to be dropped, and the bower cable cut, b}'^ 
means of which, the ship rounded to, and presented a fresh 
broad side to her enemy. The Confiance attempted the same 
operation and failed. This was attended with such powerful 
eftects, that she was obliged to surrender in a few minutes. 
The whole broadside of the Saratoga, was then brought to 
bear on the Linnet, and in fifteen minutes she followed the 
example of her flag ship. One of the British sloops struck 
to the Eagle ; three galleys were sunk, and the rest made ofl' : 
no ship in the fleet being in a condition to follow them, they 
escaped down the lake. There was no mast standing in either 
squadron, at the close of the action, to which a sail could be 
attached. The Saratoga received fifty-five round shot in her 
hull, and the Confiance one hundred and five. The action 
lasted without any cessation, on a smooth sea, at close quar- 
ters, two hours and twenty minutes. In the American squad- 
ron fifty-two were killed, and fifty-eight wounded. In the 
British, eighty-four were killed, and one hundred and ten 
wounded. Among the slain was the British commandant, 
Commodore Downic.* This engagement was in full view of 



Commodore M'Donough's letter to the secretary at war. 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 393 

both armies, and of numerous spectators collected on the 
heights, bordering on the bay, to witness the scene. It was 
viewed by the inhabitants with trembling anxiety, as success 
on the part of the British, would have opened to them an easy 
passage into the heart of the country, and exposed a nume- 
rous population on the borders of the lake, to British ravages. 
When the flag of theConfiance was struck, the shores resound- 
ed with the acclamations of the American troops, and citi- 
zens. The British when they saw their fleet completely con- 
quered, were dispirited, and confounded. 

At the moment of the commencement of the naval action? 
the British, from their works on shore, opened a heavy fire of 
shot, shells, and rockets, upon the American lines. This was 
continued with little interruption until sun-set, and returned 
with spirit and effect. At six o'clock, the firing on the part 
of the British ceased, every battery having been silenced by 
the American artillery. At the commencement of the bom- 
bardment, and while the ships were engaged, three desperate 
efforts were made by the British to pass the Saranac, for the 
purpose of carrying the American lines by assault. With this 
view, scaling ladders, fascines, and every implement necessary 
for the purpose, were prepared. One attempt was made to 
cross, at the village bridge, one at the upper bridge, and one 
at the ford way, three miles above the works. At each point, 
they were met at the bank by the American troops and re- 
pu Ised. At the bridges, the American regulars immediately 
drove them back. The ford was guarded by the volunteers 
and militia. Here a considerable body of British effected a 
passage, and the militia retired into the neighbouring woods, 
where their operations would be more effectual. A whole 
company of the 76th regiment was here destroyed, three 
lieutenants, and twenty-seven men taken, and the captain and 
the rest of the company killed. The residue of the British 
were obliged to recross the river with precipitation and con- 
siderable loss. 

50 



31)4 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. C hap. IQ 

British retire from Plaitshurgh. At dusk the British with- 
drew their cannon from the batteries; at nine, sent off all the 
artillery and baggage for which they could procure transports 9 
and at two the following morning, the whole army precipi- 
tately retreated, leaving their sick and wounded behind. Great 
quantities of provisions, tents, entrenching tools, and ammuni- 
tion, were also left. Much was found concealed in the ponds and 
creeks, and buried in the ground. Their retreat was so sud- 
den, rapid, and unexpected, that they arrived at Chazy, a dis- 
tance of eight miles, before their departure was known to the 
American general. The light troops and militia were im- 
mediately ordered out in pursuit, but were unable to make 
many prisoners. Upwards of three hundred deserters came 
in within two or three days after the action, who confirmed 
the account of Prevost's precipitate flight, and assisted in dis- 
covering the property they had concealed and left behind. 
The American loss on land, during the day, was thirty-seven 
killed, and eighty-two wounded and missing. General Ma- 
comb's official report estimates the British loss in land and 
naval forces, since their leaving Montreal, in killed, wounded, 
prisoners, deserters, and missing, at twenty-five hundred.* 

The British army engaged in this expedition, consisted of 
the 

1st Brigade nnder Major General Robinson, - 3,700 

2d under General Powers, - . , . 3,600 

3d under General Brisbane, - - . . 3,100 

A light brigade, consisting af a 
Swiss regiment, - . _ . » 1,200 

Canadian Chasseurs, ... - 900 

Valtiguers, ----._ 550 

Frontier light infantry, - - - - 150 

2,800 



*• General Msicemb'a letter to secretary at wsr. 



1814 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, 395 

4 troops of light dragoons, 300 

4 companies of royal light artillery, . - - 400 

I corps of rocketeers, - - - - - 25 

and a corps of sappers and miners, . - . 75 



14,000 

Major-General Baynes, adjutant-general; Sir Sidney Beck- 

with, quarter-master-general ; the whole division under the 

immediate command of Major-General De Rottenburgh, and 

Sir George Prevost, commander in chief. 

The precipitate retreat of so numerous, and well appointed 
an army from before a force of fifteen hundred regulars, and 
three thousand militia suddenly called together, was un- 
accountable and wholly unexpected. General Prevost en- 
deavours to justify himself to his government, by imputing it 
to the loss of the fleet. But no active co-operation was or 
could be expected from their respective fleets by either army. 
The real ground was, that the valour of the American troops 
in defence of their soil had convinced the British general that 
an attempt to penetrate the country, and carry his original 
plans into effect, would be attended with defeat and disgrace. 
The events of the 1 1th of September, put an end to further 
offensive operations on the part of the British, on the Cham- 
plain frontier. Their main army returned to Montreal, and 
their outposts gave very little further disturbance during^ the 
residue of the campaign. These events relieved the surround- 
ing country from the most alarming apprehensions. When 
they saw an army like that of General Prevost's invading 
th^ir country, and General Izard, with the flower of the 
iK)rthern army, on whom their hopes rested, leaving 
Plattsburgh for the Niagara frontier, almost at the same mo- 
ment, they considered their destiny as sealed. But instead of 
desponding, they turned out at the call of their government, 
nobly and successfully defended their territory, and drove 
the enemy from their borders. Their joy at so sudden and 
unexpected a termination of their apprehensions, v/as ifh- 



396 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 18. 

bounded. M'Donough, Macomb, and the brave officers and 
soldiers by whose skill and valour their deliverance was 
achieved, were honoured and their deeds celebrated with the 
highest applause. The principal officers were rewarded with 
promotions. Macomb was immediately brevetted by the 
President with the grade of major-general, and M'Donough 
promoted to a more important command in the navy. On 
the 14th, General Macomb, having ascertained that the British 
troops had entirely left the American territory and were with- 
drawing to Montreal, discharged the New-York and Vermont 
militia and volunteers vyith high encomiums for their gallant 
and active services. Prevost retired to Quebec, was dis- 
missed from his command, and disgraced by the government. 
General Result of the War on the Canada Border. Active 
operations on the Canada border, terminated in the autumn 
of 1814. The war undertaken for the conquest of the Cana- 
das, ended in leaving both parties nearly in the same situation 
as it found them at its commencement. It left the Americans 
in possession of Maiden and the adjacent territory, and the 
British of Niagara. Human suft'ering by the conflagrations of 
the villages of Newark, Dover, and St. Davids, was more 
than balanced by the destruction of the American towns on 
the Niagara frontier. The sum of human slaughter in the 
various battles was nearly equal ; the balance of prisoners 
•aras considerably in favour of the British. Estimating one- 
third of the war expenditures to have been applied to this 
object, it cost the United States upwards of thirty millions of 
dollars. This sum, according to an estimate of the secretary 
of the navy, assisted by experienced ship-builders and naval 
officers, of the cost of building, equipping and manning a 
seventy-four, would have been sufficient to have built, equip- 
ped, manned, and kept in service one year sixty ships of the 
line of that size. Had one-fourth of this sum been applied to 
that object, and a considerable portion of the other to pro- 
curing smaller fast sailing vessels of war, to operate upon 
British commerrc : it would have been sufficient to have 



LSi4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 397 

effectually guarded the coast, swept their commerce from the 
ocean, and taught them to respect American maritime rights. 
The events of the Canada war have developed some impor- 
tant principles in the structure of the American government. 
It was early perceived, that the militia, the physical force of 
the union, were not bound by the constitution, nor were they 
to be depended on as volunteers, to go beyond the limits of 
the United States, for the purposes of conquest. It was soon 
found that voluntary enlistment was wholly inadequate to 
raise an army sufficient for the purposes of foreign war ; and 
it was finally demonstrated, that, although the power of de- 
claring war, vested in congress by the constitution, might imply 
a power of raising armies by conscription, or compulsory 
proceedings, yet such a measure was so repugnant to the 
feelings of a free people, that resort could be had to it, only 
for the purposes of defence. Singular as the fact may appear, 
ihe Americans, with a naval force, not equal to a twentieth 
part of the British, were able to capture the most vessels, 
and do their antagonists the most harm on the ocean ; while 
on land they were unable to conquer a single British province, 
not the twentieth part their equal. The American politician 
believing in a superior agency, reads in this result, the lan- 
guage of a superintending Providence, commanding the United 
States to maintam their rights with energy, and abstain from 
views of conquest. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

New-Orleans. — Proceedings at Pensacola. — Arrival of a British Naval 
Force at thac place. — NichoU's Address to the Louisiaaians. — Negoti- 
ations with the Pirates of Barrataria. — Commodore Patterson's Expe- 
dition against them. — Unsuccessful Expedition against Mobile. — 
General Jackson enters Pensacola with a Military Force ; expels the 
British. — Armament Sails from the West Indies against New-Orleans. 
— NichoU's Embassy to the Choctaws. — General Jackson's Arrival ; 
proclaims Martial Law. — Measures of Defence. — Fort St. Philips 
garrisoned. — Arrival of the British Armament at Ship Island. — Cap- 
ture of the American Flotilla on Lake Bergne. — Landing of the Brit- 
ish at Bayou Bienvenu. — Battle of the 23d of December. — Of the 1st 
of January. — Decisive Victory of the 8th. — Bombardment of Fort St. 
Phillips. — Retreat of the British. — Capture of Fort Boyer. 

The defence of the 7lh military district, comprehending thf 
states of Tennessee, and Louisiana, and the Mississippi terri- 
tory, was intrusted to General Jackson. After subduing the 
Creeks, and granting them peace on such terms as he thought 
proper, under the direction of the President, he proceeded to 
establish strong garrisons at the various military posts in the 
Mississippi territory, the object of which was to watch and 
check any hostile movements of the Indians. 

Conduct of the Spanish Authorities at Pensacola. From the 
commencement of Indian hostihties in the south, the Spanish 
authorities in Florida, had given the hostile tribes all the aid 
and encouragement in their power, and had suftered the Brit- 
ish to supply them, through the posts and territories of the 
Floridas, with the means of carrying on their warfare. Af- 
ter the defeat of the Creeks, M'Qucen, and Francis, the two 
principal instigators of the massacre at fort Mimms, andgthc 
subsequent war, took refuge at Pensacola, under the protec- 
tion of the Spanish governor. A fonsiderable quantity of 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 3^y 

arms for the use of the hostile Indians, which were collecting 
in the Floridas, and on the borders of the United States, were 
suffered to be landed, and conveyed up the Apalachicola 
river, to enable them to renew their hostilities. Against this 
conduct of the Spanish government, General Jackson m-ged 
the most strong and pointed remonstrances ; but received 
nothing but evasive and unsatisfactory answers : while a con- 
tinuance of the same course of proceedings, gave abundant 
evidence of the weakness and partiality of the Spanish au- 
thorities. 

Arrival of a British Armament. On the 25th of August^ 
the Hermes, Orpheus, and Carvian, three British ships of war, 
arrived at Pensacola, and landed a large quantity of military 
stores and provisions, and three hundred troops, which were 
conducted to the Spanish fort. This armament conducted by 
Edward NichoU, who bore a Colonel's commission in the 
British service, and was expressly authorized to engage the 
Florida Indians in acts of hostility against the United States, 
was destined to unite with them for these objects. 

NichoWs Address. On the 29th, NichoU published an ad- 
dress to the native inhabitants of Louisiana, stating that he 
was at the head of a large British and Indian force, and calling 
upon them to assist in liberating their paternal sail, from a 
faithless and corrupt government, declaring that the American 
usurpation must, and would be abolished ; and that in such 
a happy event, they would have no fear of taxes imposed ta 
support an unnatural and unjust war, and declaring that the 
brave men under his command, burned with an ardent desire 
to unite with the patriotic Louisianians, to hberate the south- 
ern frontier from the American yoke, and drive the Americans 
within the Umits prescribed them by the British sovereign^ 
This proclamation had the effect of seducing a few deluded, 
and desperate Louisanians to Nicholl's standard. This arma- 
ment was supplied with provisions at Pensacola, principally 
from New-Orleans. The merchants of that city, who had 
had the provisions from the upper country for a considerable 



40O HIBTORSf OF' THE LATE WAK. Cha? 19.- 

lime on hand, eagerly sought this market. A brisk trade, very 
lucrative to the New-Orleans merchant, was carried on be- 
tween that city and Pensacola ; by means of which the Brit- 
ish became possessed of accurate information respecting its 
strength, resources, means of defence, and most assailable 
points. They also were enabled to obtain abundant supplies 
from the city itself, for the army and navy destined for its de- 
struction. General Jackson, who, when an important object 
was to be obtained, never doubted his constitutional powers, 
immediately arrested this intercourse ; and prohibited all 
commerce between the two places. 

Pirates of Barrataria. Nicholl's next effort was to form 
a treaty between the British government, and a gang of 
pirates established at Barrataria, and several other small 
islands near the mouth of the Mississippi. On these islands, 
or rather sand-banks, about forty miles to the westward of the 
Balize, and near the Louisiana shore, a desperate band of 
pirates had seated themselves, and under the Carthagenian 
flag, but without authority or countenance from any govern- 
ment, were committing depredations on all vessels that came 
within their reach. They had been suffered to continue here 
for about two years, and had accumulated a force of fifteen or 
twenty small vessels, and eight hundred men, deserters and 
fugitives of every description, and of all nations and colours. 
Their leader was a renegado Frenchman, by the name of La- 
fitte ; they had fortified themselves with twenty pieces of can- 
non, and were enriching themselves with an indiscriminate 
plunder of British, Spanish, French, and American vessels. 
To this horde of pirates, the British commandant from Pensa- 
cola, addressed himself, proposing to take them into service, 
promising to their chief the rank and pay of captain, and to 
bis followers, lands in the conquered colonies in proportion to 
their rank and meritorious services. 

With this address. Commodore Piercy, commandant of the 
British squadron at Pensacola, despatched captain Locker 
in the Sophia to Barrataria, demanding of Lafitte the restit"- 



IS 14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 401 

non of British vessels and projoerty in his possession, and 
threatening destruction to his cstabhshment, in case of re- 
fusal ; at the same time proposing to him to unite with them 
in the war against the United States, and promising to him 
and his followers security to their estabhshment, the blessings 
of the British constitution, and lands to their satisfaction at 
the conclusion of the war : In return for these advantages, 
their armed vessels and crews were to be taken into the Brit- 
ish service, and for which they were to be remunerated. 
They were also required to cease all hostilities against the 
Spaniards, and restore all Spanish property in their pos- 
session. The pirates rejected these terms, and the Brtish 
failed of obtaining the aid of these allies. While these nego- 
tiations were going on between the Barratarians and the Brit- 
ish, the American government took a different, and more 
effectual course with the pirates. On the 1 1th of September, 
Commodore Patterson, commandant of the American squad- 
ron at New-Orleans, sailed out of the Mississippi at the south- 
west passage, and on the 16th, appeared before Barratariu 
with six gunboats, a launch, a tender and the schooner 
Caroline. At nine o'clock, A. M. the pirates were seen 
forming their vessels, ten in number, in line of battle near the 
entrance of their harbour. Commodore Patterson having 
learned that there was a considerable number of deserters' 
umong the pirates from the American army and navy, who 
were desirous of returning to their duty, if ihey could be as- 
sured of a pardon, hoisted a large white flag at the mainmast,, 
bearing the words, PARDON TO DESEPtTERS, in capitals. 
At half past eleven, the commodore entered the harbour after 
grounding several times, and drew up near the pirates, when 
he perceived that they had abandoned their vessels, set fire 
to two of their best schooners, and were flying in every direc-. 
lion. lie immediately took possession of their navy, consist- 
ing of six schooners, one felucca, one brig, and two other 
armed schooners imder the Carthagenian flag ; comprising 
all the cruisers and prizes of the pirates then In port. At the 



.jt»2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Lha^. Uk 

same time. Colonel Ross, with a detachment of seventy men 
of the 44th regiment, who accompanied Commodore Patter- 
son, landed, and took possession of and destroyed their estab- 
lishment on shore, consisting of about forty houses of differ- 
ent sizes, badly constructed, and thatched w:4h Palmetto 
leaves. On the 20th, Commodore Patterson captured another 
vessel coming into the harbour, bearing the Carthageniaii 
flag, and belonging to the pirates. On the 23d, the whole 
squadron now consisting of seventeen sail, got under weigh, 
entered the south-west passage on the 24th, and on the 1st of 
October arrived at New-Orleans without the loss of a man. 
This expedition entirely annihilated this piratical establish- 
raent. The gang dispersed themselves in various directions 
many who had deserted from the American army and navy 
returned to New-Orleans, received the President's pardon, 
and distinguished themselves in the defence of that city. 

Expedition against fort Bayer. The next object of the 
British land and naval forces at Pensacola, was fort Boyer. 
on Mobile point, at the entrance of the bay. This fort wa^ 
erected by the Americans after they had taken possession 
of the town and territory of Mobile, in the year 1812, to pro- 
tect the navigation of the bay and river. It is situated on a 
bluff point, which commands the main entrance, opposite 
Dauphine Island, at the mouth of the bay; and was garrison- 
ed by one hundred and fifty-eight men, under the command 
of Major Lawrence. At noon, on the 15th of September, the 
British squadron from Pensacola, under Commodore Piercy. 
appeared before the fort, and commenced an attack : the 
action continued without intermission until seven, when one 
of the shipS; and two brigs were driven oil'. The commodore's 
.ship Hermes, mounting twenty-two thirty-two pounders, an- 
chored nearest the battery. Her cable was cut by a shot 
from the fort, and being otherwise much damaged, she drifted 
on shore, was set fire to and abandoned by her crew, and 
blew up. The forces under Captain Woodbine, consisting of 
one hundred marines, and two hundred Creek Indians, land- 



1817. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 403 

ed and erected a battery in the rear of the fort. This was 
silenced, and the troops dispersed by a few grape-shot. The 
whole armament the next day left the ground and returned to 
Pensacola. 

This establishment of the British in the Floridas, so con- 
venient for them to supply the Indians, and encourage their 
hostilities, and so injurious to the United States, General 
Jackson determined on his own responsibility to break up. 
The Spanish authorities claimed that national law regards 
neutral territory as inviolable, admits no hostile acts between 
the belligerents, nor permits either to pursue or attack the 
other thereon. The same principles allow the neutral to 
open his ports and harbours equally to both belligerentfj. 
While therefore Spain did not refuse the same accommodation 
to the Americans, she could not be accused of a breach of 
neutrality in permitting the British to rendezvous at Pensaco- 
la, however injurious it might be to the interests of the United 
States. To this it was answered that as slv^ had not caused 
her rights as a neutral to be respected by the British in the 
case of the Essex at Valparaiso, but had suffered them to be 
grossly violated, to the injury of the Americans ; she could not 
now complain if they availed themselves of the same pri- 
vilege of attacking their enemy while on her territory. What 
course it might be expedient to pursue in relation to this sub- 
ject was a question, exclusively for the American government 
10 determine. 

Pensacola taken hy General Jackson. Without waiting how- 
ever for this determination. General Jackson, on the 6th of 
November, appeared before the town of Pensacola with the 
regulars of the 3d, 39th, and 44th regiments of infantry, part 
of General Cotfee's brigade, the Mississippi dragoons, part of 
the west Tenessee regiment, and the Choctaws under Major 
Blue. On his approach, he sent Major Pierce with a flag, to 
communicate the object of his visit to the governor. As the 
flag approached fort St. George, then occupied by British 
and Spanish troops, it was fired upon and compelled to rei 



404 HISTOllY OF THE LATE WAJ^. Chap. 19. 

turn. The Americans encamped on the west of the town, 
and in order to induce a belief that the attack would com- 
mence on that quarter, the mounted men were paraded and 
sent out on the morning of the 7th. \\ file the attention of the 
British was directed to them, the main body passed in rear 
of the fort to the east side of the town, where they appeared 
in full view, ata mile's distance. In this position there was a 
stront; fort in possession of the British ready to assail them on 
the right, seven armed ships on the left, and strong block- 
houses and batteries in front. General Jackson led on his 
men with firmness, and entered the town, when a battery 
opened upon his centre column composed of the regulars, 
with ball and grape, while at the same time they were assailed 
by a shower of musketry from the housws and gardens. Cap- 
tain Leval with his company, immediately stormed and took 
the battery, while the enemy's musketry were silenced by a 
steady and well directed fire of the regulars. The governor 
now came out, and met Colonels Williamson and Smith, who 
led the dismounted volunteers, with a flag, and surrendered the 
town and fort unconditionally. The fort was taken posses- 
sion of at twelve o'clock at night ; and protection granted to 
the persons and property of the citizens of the town. On the 
morning of the 8th, General Jackson was preparing to storm 
the Barancas, a fortress six miles from the town, which com- 
manded the entrance of the harbour, and in the hands of the 
Americans could have enabled them to prevent the escape of 
the British ships, when a tremendous explosion gave notice 
that the fortress with its a))pcndages was blown up. To save 
the shipping, the British had compelled the Spaniards to con- 
sent to the destruction of this post, the most important in the 
Floridas. A detachment of two hundred men wei'c sent to 
examine the ruins, who reported that every thing combustible 
was burned, the cannon spiked and dismounted and the Bri- 
tish gone to their ships. At tlie approach of General Jack- 
son, the hostile Indians fled across the bay. The American 
general, having assured the Spaniards that any injury done lb 



ntU. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 405 

})rivate property should be compensated by the American 
t;;overnment, withdrew his troops from the Spanish territory, 
and returned to Tensaw on the 13th of November, leaving a 
•strong impression of the bravery and firmness of the American 
troops. 

The success of this enterprise, and its beneficial effects to 
(he United States, precluded all inquiry into the real charac- 
ter of the transaction. It was in eftect making war upon Spain, 
by an American general, without the authority of Congress, 
or the executive. Under other circumstances, it might have 
involved the country in war with that nation, or the govern- 
ment must have disavowed the transaction, dismissed the gen- 
eral, and made restitution. But Spain Avas at this time in no 
condition to resist either British or American aggressions. 

Mzo-Orleans. Towards the close of the year 1814, the 
attention of the British and Americans, was drawn from all 
minor opperations of the war, to the attack and defence ot 
New-Orleans. This city is situated on the east bank of the 
Mississippi, one hundred miles from its mouth. Forty miles 
up the river, is Detour Plaguemine, where there is a consider- 
able bend in the river, so that the same wind which brings a 
ship into this bend, will not serve to carry it further up. Fort 
St. Phillips, is erected on a point of land formed by this 
bend, and commands the passage. A ship of war entering 
'it must lie to, within reach of the guns of this fort, until a 
change of wind enables her to proceed up the river ; by rea- 
son of marshes, the fort is inaccessible by land. This posi- 
tion is the principal defence of the city from an attack by sea. 
Forty miles above this, is the Det'uir I'Anglois, or English 
town, situate in a similar form, but not fortified. From this 
to the city is a high embankment, or dyke, on the margin of the 
river, to prevent its overflowing the adjacent country : the 
surface of this embankment, forms a convenient road. One 
hundred miles above the city, is an outlet from the river on its 
east bank, which is denominated the river Iberville, and com- 
municates Avith lake Pontchartrain, through lake Maurepas, 



iUG HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chav. l!^. 

Lake Pontchartrain, by a narrow pass, communicates with 
lake Borgnc, and this with the gulf of Mexico. The land en- 
circled by these waters, forms the Island of Orleans, and is 
low, level, and swampy, intersected with numerous bayous or 
creeks, and much of it lower than the surface of the river. 
The outlet from lake Pontchartrain to lake Borgne, is about 
four miles in length. For the defence of this passage, a small 
fortress had been erected, called Petit Coquille. General 
Wilkinson, while he commanded at New-Orleans, having been 
directed to present a plan for the defence of the city; and con- 
sidering that the probable course which an enemy designing 
an attack, would take, must be through this passage, and up 
the Bayou St. John, which would bring them directly before 
the city, advised that the fortification at the Petit Coquille, be 
enlarged and provided with sixty pieces of heavy ordnance, 
and an adequate garrison. His plan was never adopted ; but 
the enemy having obtained possession of it, and believing ii 
to have been executed, were deterred from making their at- 
tack at that point. At the entrance of lake Borgne into the 
gulf of Mexico, are a number of small islands, the principal of 
which is Ship or Pine Island, where there is a harbour. At 
this place, and at every entrance into the lake from the gulf, 
ihe water is shoal, and will not admit of sea vessels. 

The city of New-Orleans is the natural, and only conven- 
ient place of deposite on the Mississippi, which furnishes an 
outlet for one half the territory of the United States, contain- 
ing one quarter of its population. The productions of the 
country above, are transported in rafts, boats, and various 
river craft, to this city, whence they are shipped in sea ves- 
sels to distant markets. Its situation rendered it the most im- 
portant point of attack which the United States presented. 
At this period, vast quantities of sugar, cotton, tobacco, and 
other jjroductions were accumulated here, which the war had 
prevented from being exported, and now promised a rich har- 
vest of plunder. These circumstances rendered this city an 
important obiect to the British government, either as a per- 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 407 

mancnt conquest, or a subject of negotiation. The same cir- 
cumstances rendered its defence, at all hazards, an imperious 
duty on the part of the United States. 

Preparation for the Attack. After the British fleet left the 
Chesapeake, they repaired to Jamaica for the purpose of re- 
cruiting, obtaining supplies, and concentrating their forces. 
At this place, and at Bermuda, the whole British force, which 
could DC spared from the Atlantic coast, from Halifax to 
Georgia, rendezvoused in the month of November for the 
New-Orleans expedition : large reinforcements were also 
ordered from England, under General Packenham, furnished 
not only with the means of war, but also with printing-presses, 
custom-house and civil officers ; and every thing incident to 
a permanent estabhshment. On the 20th of November, this 
formidable armament, consisting of upwards of sixty sail, 
1 eft the West Indies for the gulf of Mexico ; and on the 18th 
of December rendezvoused in the neighbourhood of Shi]> 
Island, at the entrance of lake Borgne. 

Embassy to the Choctaws, Colonel Nicholl had represent- 
ed to the British commander, that he could obtain powerful 
aid from the lower Choctaws on the Apalachicola. For this 
purpose he was despatched at the head of an embassy to 
engage their assistance. They arrived on the 4th at the prin- 
cipal Indian village, consisting of about forty huts, composed 
of reeds and branches of trees, erected in the heart of a wood 
a small distance from the shore. The m^^n sat in the doors ot 
the huts in a state of indolence, their .elbows resting on their 
knees, and their chins on their handsi,:in perfect silence, each 
one appearing absorbed in his ov/n contemplations. The 
women were engaged in canying water, splitting wood, light- 
ing fires, and cooking provisions, while numerous children 
were playing and quarrelling round the huts. On the approach 
of the embassy, the chief, an elderly and infirm man, and the 
principal warrior, a man of about forty, of a fierce and savage 
countenance, rose ur> and came out to meet them. They 



40B HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chai-. 19. 

were dressed in buflalo hides, with a loose scarf of cotton 
thrown over one shoulder, and wrapped round their loins : 
the chief had two broad pieces of gold suspended from his 
cars, and bracelets of the same metal round his wrists ; the 
warrior's ears were ornamented with silver rings, and a whole 
Spanish dollar suspended from his nose. Colonel NichoU 
was well actjuainted with these men, and introduced the other 
members of the embassy : the Indians extended the hand of 
friendship to them, and conducted them to the largest hut in 
the town. By this time the other warriors were roused from 
their lethargy and crowded about them, so that in a few 
minutes they were surrounded with upwards of a hundred 
savages, holding in their hands their uplifted tomahawks, and 
their scalping knives suspended from a belt fastened round 
their middle. Having made known their business, the em- 
bassy were informed that nothing could be done until after 
the feast. English and Indians were then all seated on the 
grass, and the provisions consisting of buffalo flesh, just warm- 
ed and swimming in blood, with cakes of Indian corn, were 
brought in the hands of Indian women, and laid on the 
turf; the warriors drawing their scalping knives from their 
belts, cut oil slices, and holding the flesh in one han d and the 
cake in the other, devoured their repast. Out of respect to 
their guests, the Indian women had prepared a minced dish, 
which was laid u)i»bn dried buflalo hides ; of this also the 
Indians ate heartily^'dipping in their hands, and in this 
manner conveying the'^food to their mouths. When the rem- 
nants were removed, anil the women were making tlreir scanty 
meal of the crumbs, a supply of rum which the English fur- 
nished was produced ; after liberal potations, the taciturnity 
^vhich the Indians had hitherto observed, gave way ; and all 
speaking together, each endeavoured to drown the voices of 
his companions by elevating his own, until it ended in a con- 
tinued shout. Springing from the ground where they had 
hitherto continued sitting cross legged, their activitv and me- 



1«14. UiSTORy OF THE LATE WAR. 409 

nacing gestures threatened blood-shed. The result of the 
conference was that no assistance could be afforded the Eng- 
hsh. General Jackson's name was a terror to the Indians of 
the south : and these poor Choctaws learning that if they 
joined the English, they would have to meet him again before 
New-Orleans, refused their aid. (' lonel Nich( 11 was 
obliged to return to the fleet with only two Indians whom he 
persuaded to accompany him. 

Defence of New-Orleans, General Jackson, with the reg- 
ular troops from the Mobile and Mississippi territory, arrived 
at New-Orleans on the 2d of December, and put in operation 
the most rigorous measures of defence. The militia of Lou- 
isiana and Mississippi were ordered out en masse, and large 
detachments from Tennessee and Kentucky. From a pre- 
vious correspondence with Governor Claiborne, General 
Jackson had been informed that the city corps had for the 
most part, refused obedience to the orders which he had given 
to turnout on the requisition of General Flournoy ; that they 
had been encouraged in their disobedience by the legislature 
of the State, who were then in session in the city ; 
that, although there were many faithful citizens in New- 
Orleans, there were many others, whose attachment to the 
United States could not be confided in ; and should the city be 
attacked, they must principally depend upon the regular 
troops, and the militia of the western states for defence. 
Many of the citizens, the governor observes, are devoted to 
the interests of Spain ; and whose hostility to the Engli>h is 
no less observable than their dislike to the American gov- 
ernment. Native Americans, native Louisianians, French- 
men, Spaniards, and English compose the population ; among 
them there exists much jealousy, and as great a difference in 
political sentiment as in their language and habits. 

In addition to this communication, on the 8th of September, 
the governor writes, " There is great reason to fear a much 
greater disaffection that I had anticipated. The garrison 

52 



410 mSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 1*^- 

here is alarmingly weak, and from the great mixture of per- 
sons and character in this city, we have much to apprehend, 
from within as well as without. In arresting the intercourse 
between New-Orleans and Pensacola, you have done right. 
That place is in fact an enemy's post ; and had our commer- 
cial intercourse continued, the supplies furnished the enemy 
w^ould have so much exhausted our own stock of provisions, 
MS to have occasioned the most serious inconvenience to our- 
selves. I was on the point of taking on myself the prohibition 
of the trade to Pensacola, and should have issued a pro- 
clamation for that purpose, the very day I heard of your inter- 
position. Enemies to the country may blame you for the 
very prompt and energetic measures you have taken ; but in 
the person of every patriot you will find a supporter. I am 
aware of the lax police of the city, and indeed throughout the 
state, with respect to the visits of strangers. I think with you 
that our country is filled with spies and traitors." 

Martial Lazv proclaimed. On his arrival in the city. General 
Jackson found these sentiments of the governor fully justified: 
and on consultation with him, in conjunction with Judge Hall, 
and many influential persons of the city, on the 16th of De- 
cember, issued an order, declaring the city and environs of 
New-Orleans to be under strict martial law. Every individ- 
ual entering the city was required to report himself to the 
adjutant-general, and no person by land or water was suffer- 
ed to leave the city without y passport. The street lamps 
were ordered to be extinguished at nine o'clock ; after which 
any persons found in the streets, or from their homes without 
permission in writing, and not having the countersign, were 
ordered to be apprehended as spies.* This measure at once 
converted the whole city into a camp, and subjected the per- 
sons and property of the citizens to the will of the command- 



General Jackson's order of the 16th of December, ISl-^l, 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 411 

ing general. Writs of habeas corpus, and all other civil 
process by means of which the lives and properties of the 
people are protected, were for the time suspended. Such was 
the alarm and confusion of the moment, that few inquiries 
were made whence the commanding general of a military 
station derived such powers, to be exercised over the inhab- 
itants of the adjacent country, in nowise connected with his 
camp. Although the brilliant success which afterwards at- 
tended the operations of General Jackson seemed to justify 
the measure ; yet the people saw in it a precedent, which 
though it might have saved New-Orleans, might at some 
future period extinguish their liberties. A most rigid police 
was now instituted. Spies and traitors, with which the gover- 
nor complained the city abounded, and who had been indus- 
triously employed in seducing the French and Spanish inhab- 
itants from their allegiance, now fled : and the remaining cit- 
izens cordially co-operated with the general in the means of 
defence. Fort St, Philips which guarded the passage of the 
river at the Detour la Plaquemine, was strengthened and 
placed under the command of Major Overton, an able and 
skilful engineer. A site was selected for works of defence, 
four miles below the city, where its destinies were ultimately 
to be determined. The right rested on the river, and the left 
was flanked by an impenetrable cypress swamp, which ex- 
tended eastward to lake Pontchartrain, and westward to within 
a mile of the river. Between the swamp and the river was a 
large ditch or artificial bayou which had been made for agri- 
cultural objects, but which now served an important military 
purpose. On the northern bank of this ditch, the entrench- 
ments were thrown up, and large quantities of cotton bales so 
arranged,, as that the troops could be effectually protected 
from the enemy's fire. Each flank was secured by an ad- 
vance bastion ; and the latter protected by batteries in the 
rear. These works were well mminted with artillery. Op- 
posite this position, on the west bank of the river, on a rising 
ground, General Morgan, with the city and drafted militia, was 



412 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 19- 

stationed ; and Commodore Patterson, with the crews of the 
Caroline and Louisiana, and the guns of the latter, formed an- 
other, near General Morgan's 5 both which entirely enfiladed 
the approach of an enemy against the principal works. A 
detachment was stationed above the town to guard the pass 
of the Bayou St. John, if an attempt should be made from that 
quarter. These arrangements, promptly and judiciously 
made, gave entire confidence to the citizens, and inspired 
them with zeal to second the generaPs exertions. Reinforce- 
ments were daily arriving, and as they arrived, were immedi- 
ately conducted to their respective stations. 

Landing oftht British. In the meantime, the British were 
actively employed in making preparations for the attack ; be- 
lieving the pass from lake Borgne to lake Pontchartrain, to 
be defended according to General Wilkinson's plan by the 
fortress of Petit Coquille, they determined to land from lakf. 
Borgne, by the bayou Bicnvenue. For this purpose they^ 
concentrated their forces on Ship island, eighty miks distant 
from the contemplated place of landing. The depth of water 
in lake Borgne, vyas such that this distance could be traversed 
only by boats and small craft, and must necessarily be passed 
several times in order to bring up the whoie armament. The 
first object of the British general, was to clear the lake of the 
American gun-boats ; and for this purpose, forty British 
launches were sent in pursuit of them, and, after a desperate 
resistance, captured and destroyed the whole American flotilla, 
stationed on lake Borgne and Pontchartrain, for the defence 
of New-Orleans, consisting of five gun-boats, and a small 
sloop and schooner. By this success, they obtained the un- 
disturbed possession of the lake ; and on the 22d of Decem- 
ber, proceeded from their rendezvous on Ship island, with all 
their boats and small craft capable of navigating the lake, to 
the bayou Bienvenue ; and having surprised and captured the 
videttes at the mouth of bayou, the first division accom- 
plished their landing unobserved. Major General Vilhcre, 
<r>f the New-Orleans n^ilifia, \\v\ns: on the bayou, to whom the 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 413 

important service of making the first attack, and giving notice 
of the enemy's approach was intrusted, found them on his 
plantation, nine miles below the city, without any previous 
knowledge of their approach. 

Skirmishes of the 23d. Notice was immediately given to Gen- 
eral Jackson, who came out and attacked them on the evenins- 
of the 23d. In diis affair, the British sustained a loss, in killed, 
wounded, and missing, of five hundred. The British entrench- 
ed themselves at the Bienvenue plantation, four miles from 
the American camp, making the plantation house in the rear 
of their works, their head-quarters. General Jackson estab- 
lished his head-quarters, at M'Carty's plantation, on the bank 
of the river, and in full view of the British encampment. Two 
armed schooners, the Caroline and Louisiana, constitutins- all 
the American naval force on the river, dropped down from the 
city, anchorea opposite the British encampment, and opened 
a brisk fire upon their lines with considerable effect. On the 
27th, the Caroline, Captain Henley, got becalmed v/ithin reach 
of the British batteries, and was set fire to, and destroyed by 
their hot shot : the other succeeded in getting out of their 
reach. On the 28th, the British advanced within half a mile 
of the American lines, and opened a fire of shells and rockets : 
but were driven back by the artillery with considerable loss. 
On the night of the 31 st of December, the enemy again ad- 
vanced within six hundred yards of General Jackson's posi- 
tion, and erected three batteries, mounting fifteen guns, and 
at eight o'clock in the morning, opened a heavy fire. In the 
course of the day, under cover of these batteries, three unsuc- 
cessful attempts were made to storm the American works. 
By four in the afternoon, all their batteries were silenced, and 
in the following night, they returned to their former position. 
On the 4th of January, General Adair arrived, with four thou- 
sand Kentucky militia, principally without arms. The 
muskets, and munitions of war destined for the supply of this 
corps, were provided at Pittsburgh, and did not leave that 
place until the 25th of December ; passed Louisville the 6th 



414 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 19- 

of January, and arrived at New-Orleans, several days after 
(he battle of the 8th. On the 6th, the last reinforcement of 
three thousand men arrived from England, under Major Gen- 
eral Lambert. Before the final assault on the American lines, 
the British general deemed it necessary to dislodge General 
Morgan and Commodore Patterson, from their positions on 
the right bank. These posts so eftectually enfiladed the ap- 
proach to General Jackson's works, that the army advancing 
to the assault, must be exposed to the most imminent hazard. 
To accomplish this object, boats were to be transported across 
the island from lake Borgae to the Mississippi ; for this pur- 
pose the British had been laboriously employed in deepening 
and widening the canal or bayou Bienvenue, on which they 
first disembarked. On the 7th, they succeeded in opening 
the embankment on the river, and completing a communica- 
tion from the lake to the Mississippi. In pushing the boats 
through, it was found at some places, that the canal was not 
of sufficient width, and at others the banks fell in and choked 
the passage which necessarily occasioned great delay, and 
increase of labour. At length, however, they succeeded in 
hauling through a sufficient number to transport five hundred 
troops to the right bank. At dawn of day on the 8th, was 
the period fixed for the final assault on the American lines. 
Colonel Thornton, was detached with five hundred men, to 
cross the river, and attack the batteries on that side, at the 
same time that the main assault was to be made, of which he 
was to be informed by a signal rocket. The American general 
had detached Colonel Davis, with three hundred Kentucky 
railitia, badly armed, to reinforce General Morgan. These 
were immediately ordered to the water edge, to oppose the 
enemy's landing. Unable in their situation to contend with a 
superior force of regular troops well armed, they soon broke 
and fled, and the Louisiana mihtia at General Morgan's bat- 
tery followed their example. Commodore Patterson's marine 
battery, being now unprotected, his crews were obliged to 
yield to an overwhelming force, and the British succeeded in 



5814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 415 

silencing both ; but the opposition Colonel Thornton met 
with prevented this operation from bemg completed, until 
the contest was nearly ended on the opposite side of the river. 
Victory of the 8th. At day-light on the morning of the 8th, 
the main body of the British, under their commander in chief, 
General Packenham, were seen advancing from their encamp- 
ment to storm the American lines. On the preceding eve- 
ning, they had erected a battery within eight hundred 
yards, which now opened a brisk fire to protect their advance. 
The British came on in two columns, the left along the levee 
on the bank of the river, directed against the American right, 
while their right advanced to the swamp, with a view to turn 
General Jackson's left. The country being a perfect level, 
and the view unobstructed, their march was observed from its 
commencement. They were suffered to approach in silence 
and unmolested, until within three hundred yards of the lines. 
This period of suspense and expectation was employed by 
General Jackson and his officers, in stationing every man at 
his post, and arranging every thing for the decisive event. 
When the British columns had advanced within three hundred 
yards of the lines, the whole artillery at once opened upon 
them a most deadly fire. Forty pieces of cannon deeply 
charged with grape, canister, and musket balls, mowed them 
down by hundreds, at the same time the batteries on the west 
bank opened their fire, while the riflemen in perfect security 
behind their works, as the British advanced took deliberate 
aim, and neerly every shot took effect. Through this destruc- 
tive fire, the British left column, under the immediate orders 
of the commander in chief, rushed on with their fascines, and 
scaling ladders to the advance bastion on the American rights 
and succeeded in mounting the parapet ; here, after a close 
conflict with the bayonet, they succeeded in obtaining posses- 
sion of the bastion ; when the battery planted in the rear for 
its protection, opened its fire, and drove the British from the 
ground. On the American left, the British attempted to pass 
ihe swamp, and gain the rear, but the works had been extend- 



416 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. It*, 

cd as far into the swamp as the ground would permit. Some 
who attempted it, sunk in the mire and disappeared ; those 
behind seeing the fate of their companions, seasonably re- 
treated and gained the hard ground. The assault continued 
an hour and a quarter : during the whole time the British were 
exposed to the deliberate, and destructive fire of the Ameri- 
can artillery and musketry, which lay in perfect security be- 
hind their breastworks of cotton bales, which no balls could 
penetrate. At eight o'clock, the British columns drew off in 
confusion, and retreated behind their works. Flushed with 
success, the militia were eager to pursue the British troops to 
their entrenchments, and drive them immediately from the 
island. A less prudent and accomplished general might 
have been induced to yield to the indiscreet ardour of his 
troops ; but General Jackson, understood too well the nature 
both of his own, and his enemy's force, to hazard such an at- 
tempt. Defeat must inevitably have attended an assault 
made by raw militia, upon an entrenched camp of British reg- 
ulars. The defence of New-Orleans was the object ; nothing 
was to be hazarded which would jeopardize the city. The 
British were suffered to retire behind their works without mo- 
lestation. The result was such as might be expected from 
the different positions of the two armies. General Packen- 
ham, near the crest of the glacis, received a ball in his knee, 
Still continuing to lead on his men, another shot pierced his 
body, and he was carried off the field. Nearly at the same 
lime. Major General Gibbs, the second in command, within a 
few yards of the lines, received a mortal wound, and was re- 
moved. The third in command, Major General Keane, at the 
bead of his troops near the glacis, was severely wounded. 
The three commanding generals, on marshalling their troops 
at five o'clock in the morning, promised them a plentiful din- 
ner in New-Orleans, and gave them booty and beauty as the 
parole and countersign of the day. Before eight o'clock, the 
three generals were carried off the field, two in the agonies of 
death, and the third entirely disabled ; leaving upwards oi 



iUU. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 417 

two thousand of their men, dead, dying, and wounded, on the 
field of battle. Colonel Raynor, who commanded the forlorn 
hope which stormed the American bastion on the right, as he 
was leading his men up, had the calf of his leg carried away 
by a cannon shot. Disabled as he was, he was the first to mount 
the parapet, and receive the American bayonet. Seven hun- 
dred were killed on the field, fourteen hundred wounded, and 
five hundred made prisoners, making a total on that day of 
twenty-six hundred. But six Americans were killed, and 
seven wounded. Of General Morgan's detachment on the 
west bank, and in a sortie on the British lines, forty-nine were 
killed, and one hundred and seventy-eigh( wounded. 

After the battle, General Lambert who had arrived from 
England hut two days before, and was now the only surviv- 
ing general, requested a truce for the purpose of burying his 
dead. This was granted until four o'clock in the afternoon of 
the ninth. Lines were flrawn one hundred rods distant from the 
American camp, within which the British were not permitted to 
approach. In the ditch, and in front of the works, within the 
prescribed lines, four hundred and eighty-two British dead 
were picked up by the American troops, and delivered to 
their companions over the lines for burial. The afternoon of 
the 8th, and the whole of the 9th, was spent by the British 
army in burying their dead. The American centinels guard- 
ing the lines dunng this intei-val^ frequently repeated in the 
hearing of the British, while tumbling their companions by 
hundreds into the pits, " Six killed, seven wounded," Gen- 
eral Lambert employed the first moments of the truce, in re- 
calling Colonel Thornton's corps from the west bank. On 
the 9th, General Lambert and Admiral Cochrane, with the 
surviving officers of the army, held a council of war, and de- 
termined to abandon the expedition. To withdraw the troops 
from their position, and re-embark in the face of a victorious 
enemy, presented an object pf nearly as much difficulty and 
hazard, as the first landing and attack. To accomplish this, 
every appearance of a renewal of the assault was kept up^ 

53 



418 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAIT. Chap. 1?. 

The British rcrnainetl firm ha their position, and presented a 
menacing front until the 18lh, 

Bombardment of St. Philips. In order to induce a belief 
that a united attack by land an<J water, was still intended, the 
tighter ships ascended the river to the Detour la Plaquemines 
and commenced a bombardment of fort St. Philips on the 
9th, and continued it until the 17th. The ships, taking stations 
out of the reach of the guns, commencc-d throwing shells into 
the fort, and continued it with little intermission during the 
whole time. Major Overton, and the garrison under his coitj- 
mand, sustained the attack with firmness and Avith little loss : 
but two were killed and seven wounded. On the 17th, the 
ships withdrew and joined the squadron off Ship island. This 
attack on fort St. Philips answered the purpose of keeping 
up the alarm at New-Orleans, and inducing a behef that an- 
other attempt was intended. During the whoJe of'this time, 
the general and admiral were with the utmost secrecy and 
silence, withdrawing and re-embarking their heavy artillery^ 
baggage, and stores. 

Retreat nf ike British. On the night of the 1 8th, they broke 
up their encampment, and commenced their retreat to the 
place of their first landing. To accomplish this with safety, 
it was necessary that the army should move in one body. 
With this view, imracdiatel) after the battle of the 8th, large 
working parties had been employed in constructing a road 
through a quagmire, for a considf?rdble distansce along the 
margin of the bayou; by binding together large quantities of 
reeds, and laying them across the mire 5 in the course of nine 
days, these parties had constructed something resembling a 
road from their encampment, to the place of debarkation. 
Along this insecure tracf, the British army silently stole their 
march in the night of the 18th of January. By the treading 
of the first corps, the bundles of reeds gave way, and their 
followers had^to wade up to their knees in mire. Several per- 
ished in the sloughs, the darkness of the night preventing their 
companions from affording relief. At the mouth of the bayo« 



r<Jl4, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAli. aiS 

were a few huts which aftbrded shelter for fishermen, in the 
season of catching fish for the New-Orleans market : here the 
troops halted and bivouacked previous to their embarkation. 
Their provisions being exhausted, a few crumbs of biscuit, 
and a small allowance of rum was their only support. Here 
they were eighty miles from their ships, the whole of which 
distance they had to traveise in small open boats j and hav- 
ing but few of these, the embarkation occupied ten days. On 
the 27th, the whole land and naval forces which remained of 
this disastrous expedition, to their great joy, found themselves 
on board iheir ships. Their ranks thinned, their chiefs and 
many of their companions slain, their bodies emaciated with 
Lunger, fatigue, and sickness ; ihey gladly quitted this inauspi- 
cious country. The surviving commanding general observes, 
" that the services of both array and navy, since their landing 
on this coast, have been arduous beyond any thing he ever 
before witnessed, and difficulties have been got over with an 
assiduity and perseverance beyond example by all ranks. '^ 
A British officer of distinction, an actoi- in the scene, thus de- 
scribes his tour from the encampment to the embarkation. 
*' For some time,our route lay along the high road beside the 
brink of the river, and was agreeable enough ; but as soon as 
we began to enter upon the path through the marsh, all com- 
fort was at an end. Being constructed of materials so slight, and 
resting upon a foundation so infirm, the treading of the first 
corps unavoidably beat it to pieces : those which followed 
were therefore compelled to flounder on in the best way they 
could •, and by the time the rear of the column gained the mo- 
rass, all trace of a way had entirely disappeared. But not 
only were the reeds torn asunder and sunk by the pressure of 
those who had gone before, but the bog itself which at first 
might have furnished a few spots of firm footing, ivas trodden 
into the consistency of mud. The consequence was, that 
every step sunk us to the knees, and frequently higher. Near 
the ditches, indeed, many spots occurred which we had the 
utmost difficulty of crossing at all ; and as the night was dark. 



420 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 19. 

there being no moon, nor any light, except what the stars sup- 
plied, it was difficult to select our steps, or even to follow 
those who called to us that they were safe on the other side. 
At one of these jilaces, I myself beheld an unfortunate wretch 
gradually sink, until he totally disappeared. 1 saw him 
flounder in, heard hini cry for help, and ran forward witi\ in- 
tention of saving him : but before I had taken a second step, 
I myself sunk at once as high as the breast. 1 could feel no 
solid bottom under me, and continued slowly to go deeper and 
deeper, till the mud reached my arms. Instra(J of endeav- 
ouring to helj) the poor soldier, of whom nothing now could 
be seen except the head and hands, \ was forced to beg as- 
sistance for myself, when a leathern canteen straj) being 
thrown me, I laid hold of it, ami was dragged out just as my 
fellow-sufferer became invisible, (^ver roads such as these? 
did we continue our march during the whole of the night, and 
in the morning arrived at a place called Fishermen's huts, 
consisting of a clump of mud-built collages, standing by the 
edge of the water, on a part of the morass rather more firm 
than the rest. Here We were ordered to halt ; wearied with 
exertions, and oppressed with want of sleep, I threw myself 
on the ground without so much as taking off my muddy gar- 
ments, and in an instant all cares and troubles were forgotten. 
Nor did I awake from that dee)) shimber for many hours; 
when T arose, cold and stiffs and addressed myself to the last 
morsel of salt pork m\, wallet contained. Without tents or 
huts of any description, our bed was the morass, and our only 
covering the clothes which had not (luitted Our backs for more 
than .' month ; our fires were composed solely of feeds, which 
like straw, soon blaze up and expire again, without com- 
municating any degree of warmth. But above all, our pro- 
Visions Wfere expended, and from uhat quarter an immediate 
Suppl) was to be obtained, we could not discover. Our sole 
dependence was upon the (joats. Of these a (lotilla lay ready 
to receive us, in which were already embarked the black 
norps, and the 44th ; but they had brought^ with them only food 



11814, HISTORY OF TlIE LATE ^VA^\ 421 

for their own use, it was therefore necessary that they should 
reach the fleet and return again before we could be supplied* 
But as the nearest shipping was eighty miles distant, and the 
weather might become boisterous, or the winds obstinate, we 
might starve before any supjily could arrive. As soon as the 
boats returned, regiment after regiment embarked, and set 
sail for the Hr^ct : Ijut the distance being considerable, and the 
wind foul, many days elapsed before the whole could be got 
off; by the end ol" the month, we were all once more on board 
our former shi|)S." 

Capture tf Fort Bo^tr. This armament, being now all on 
ship-ltoard, proceeded to a more easy and obtainable con- 
quest. The brave Colonjt-I Lawrence, who so nobly defend- 
ed fort Bnyer at MolVde point, on the 15th of September, was 
now besieged at the same place by this whole force. On the 
8fh of February, nearly one hundred sail ajipearcd off the 
island of Dauphine, and commenced a cannonade on the fort •, 
this continued until the 1 1th, when a landing having been ef- 
fected, and batteries erected in the rear of the fort. Colonel 
Lawi-ence was summoned to surrender, and reluctantly 
obliged to yield to an overwhelming power. The garrison con- 
sisted of three hundred and seventy-five, including officers; the 
opposing force, by land and water, to nearly ten thousand. This 
was the last and only successful achievement of the New-Or« 
leans armament, which had excited the highest expectation of 
its friends, and the apprehensions of its enemies^ 



CHAPTER XX. 

Trealment of American Seamen in British service at tlie Commence 
ment of the War. — Colonel Beasley's Correspondence with the Brit- 
ish Government on the subject. — Those who refuse to serve, treated 
as prisone rs of War, and confined in Dartmoor Prison. — Description 
of that place.— Number of American Prisoners confined there. — 
Escape of Lieutenant R. G. — Attack upon, and Slaughter of 
the Prisoners ott the 6th of April, 1815. — Report of joint Com- 
missioners appointed to examine the subject.—- Meeting of the Legisla- 
ture of Massachusetts, October 1814.— View of the situation of that 
State.— Governor's Message and Documents. — Report of Committee 
recommending a Convention of Delegates from the New-England 
Slates. — Protest of the Minority against the Report. — Proceedings 
of those States on the subject — Meeting of the Delegates at Hart- 
ford. — Their Powers examined. — Their Journal, Proceedings, and 
Report. — Proceedings of Massachusetts and Connecticut on the Re- 
port of the Convention. — Amendments to the Constitution recom- 
mended. — Transmitted to the other States, and rejected. 

/" At the commencement of the war, all British subjects found 
in the United States, were permitted to return to their native 
country, and every facility granted for their accommodation. 
Those who chose to remain, were laid under no other embar- 
rassment in the pursuit of their ordinary concerns, than being 
obliged to retire from thirty to fifty miles from the sea-board, 
to prevent an intercourse with the enemy. 

Treatmetii of Americans in England^ at the Declaration of 
War. In Great Britain, similar facilities were granted to such 
Americans as were there for the purposes of business, travel- 
ling, or amusement. But there was another class of Ameri- 
can citizens, who were destined t© receive a very different 
treatment. Seventy American vessels found in British ports 
when the news of the declaration of war reached England, 
were seizedand condemned, and their crews detained as pri- 
soners of war- 



Ittl 4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 42^ 

Of impressed Seamen. Between two and three thousand 
impressed American seamen^ found on board British ships, at 
sea and in port, at the commencement of the war, claimed 
the right of being exempt from serving against their native 
country. Every method was adopted which ingenuity could 
devise, by promises, threats, and in many instances by actual 
violence, to compel them to serve. Such Americans as were 
in port, and could find opportunity, communicated their griev- 
ances to Colonel Beasley, the American agent for prisoners 
of war in England, and sought his advice and assistance. His 
advice, whenever he could have an opportunity to communi- 
cate with them, was, that under no circumstances they should 
bear arms against their country ; to demand their discharge 
and their privileges as American citizens ; and, in case of re- 
fusal, to surrender themselves prisoners of war. His assist- 
ance was given them in a very able and eloquent appeal to 
the board of admiralty in their behalf. In reply they requir- 
ed of him the names of the persons in whose behalf he inter- 
fered and the vessels, on board of which they were detained^^ 
He named John Ballord on board the Zenolia, who offered 
himself as a prisoner, was refused to be received as such, and 
put in irons. Johri Davison board the Thistle, who gave 
himself up as a prisoner, and refused further services, ior 
which he was flogged. Ephraim Court on board the La Hogue, 
gave himself up as a prisoner, and refused further service, in 
consequence of which he was kept seven days in irons. John 
Hosman, and Riissel Brainard, of the same ship, for the same 
conduct, were put in irons and threatened with further pun- 
ishment. Thomas W, Marshal, Peter Lazette, Edward W. 
Banks, and Levi Zounger, on board the Royal William, gave 
themselves up as prisoners, and were in consequence thereof 
put into close confinement for eight days. ( But the great 
mass of American impressed seamen, Mr. Beasley could have 
no access to, and no opportunity was given them to state 
their cases. On his requesting of the admiralty, the liberty 
of addressing an open letter to them on the subject, he was 



424 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 29^ 

peremptorily refused. The admiralty determined that such 
as could not be induced to conlitiue their service, should be 
treated as prisoners of war. The result of these proceedings 
was, that on eaeh a})plication a strict examination was had 
of the case of the applicant, under every disadvantage on his 
part, and before judges under the strongest bias to decide 
against him. Even under these circumstances, more than two 
thousand applicants proved themselves to be American citi- 
zens, and instead of being paid for their past services, and 
honourably discharged, were without ii shilling immured in 
m-ison ships, and in the Dartmoor prison during the war. 

It attempting to compel American seamen to fight against 
their native country, the British government set al defiance 
all those nice principles on the subject of natural allegiance, 
which they so strenuously advocated, when it suited their 
views. 

^ Mr. Beasley was indeed offered, that if he would give his 
receipt for them -as prisoners of war, io be accounted for in Ji 
future exchange, with condition not to serve until exchanged, 
they should be delivered to him to be transported to America 
at the expense of his government. To this proposition, neither 
he nor the government could accede ; and these unfortunate 
men, in w'hose behalf alone the war was now carrying on,to the 
amount of more than two thousand, were doomed to undergo 
3 confinement, less eligible than that from which they had 
been transferredo^ 

Remonstrance of American Agent for Prisoners. To a pro- 
ceeding so cruel to the unfortunate subjects, and such an out- 
rage upon the principles and usages of national law, iVIr. 
Beasley presented an able and eloquent remonstrance ; stating 
that " taking into view the manner in which these unfortu- 
nate persons came into the power of the British government, 
that their own rights and inclinations, the rights of iheir coun- 
try, the law of nations, and every principle of justice was vio- 
lated, by the very act by which these men were brought with- 
in its power, and that the injury accumulates so long as any 



1814. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 425 

of them so remain. They are on every ground entitled to, and 
the British government are bound to grant their immediate and 
complete release. It acquired them only as the spoils of un- 
lawful violence ; how then can it retain them as the fruits of 
lawful war ? Its right to control them, can only arise from 
the lawfulness of their detention, but that which was unlawfully 
tak'?n cannot be rightfully held ; and to acknowledge the pre- 
tension to such control, as their lordships' purpose implies, 
would be to legitimate the act by which they came into their 
power. The British government, Mr. Beasley observes, dis- 
claims all right and all intention to take them ; this disavowal 
is an acknowledgment of its obhgation to restore them to the 
same condition, and to the same freedom from which they 
were taken. On what ground is it that they are to be treated 
as prisoners of war ? Not many years since, all Europe re- 
sounded with the complaints of Great Britain against France. 
for detaining as prisoners of war, certain British subjects, who, 
having entered France in time of peace, were found there at 
the breaking out of the war. But if this was regarded in Eng- 
land as an outrage, what will be thought of this detention as 
prisoners of war of American seamen, who, having been un- 
lawfully taken on the high seas, and forcibly carried into the 
British service in time of peace, are found therein at the break- 
ing out of a war, doing her service, and fighting her battles '! 
The conduct of France was in this instance attempted to be 
justified by certain acts of England, which were alleged to 
be equally contrary to the law of nations. But what justifica. 
tion or excuse can be set up for the conduct of Great Britain 
toward American seamen ? What infraction upon the law 
of nations, what violence or injustice toward British subjects, 
or what outrage is this cruel act to retaliate ? It cannot be the 
free and spontaneous permission given by the United States 
at the commencement of the war, for every British subject of 
every class and description found within their territories, or 
within their power, to return to his country, that this impri- 
sonment of American seamen is to requite. Surely this can- 

54 



426 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2ix. 

not be the indemnification \vhich Great Britain offers these 
^Jtifortunate men for the wrongs she has inflicted on them ; or 
the reward she offers for the service she lias received a? 
their hands." 

To the unquahfied prohibition of all intercourse between 
the American agent, and the impressed seamen, Mr. Beasley 
answers, that " he must submit. The relation in which they 
stood to him seemed to authorize a communication. Their 
object was to obtain information and counsel, as to the proper 
mode of conducting under circumstances so difficult and novel, 
and on an occasion the most solemn and important." His 
object Was, after having waited five months in vain for an an- 
swer to his application on their behalf, and having failed in 
all his attempts to obtain their release, to recommend to them 
to give themselves up as prisoners of war.* 

It was scarcely to have been expected, after the prince re- 
gent's proclamation requiring all British born si bjects in for- 
eign nations to return to their country, and after the princi- 
ples on the subject of natural allegiance which the British 
government adopted in relation to the prisoners at Queenston. 
that such measures would have been adopted to force Ameri- 
can impressed seamen to fight the battles of Britain against 
their native country. This reasoning of Mr. Beasley, was 
never attempted to be answered. But it had no effect upon 
a government determined to pursue a course of policy which 
it condemned. The communication lay seventy-three days 
before the admiralty board to whom it was addressed, and 
was then handed over to the transport officer ; who replied, 
that "the lords of the admiralty did not think proper to an- 
swer the letter, because it related to subjects which the power-; 
of the American agent did not authorize him to discuss, and 
though it would have been easy to have completely answered 
the misconceptions and misstatements it contained, it woulc? 



* Mr. Beasley's letter to the admiraUy. 



1S.14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 437 

be useless to proceed with a correspondence which would con- 
duce to no practical result ;" acquainting him at the same 
time, that no person confined in prison as an American sea- 
man, could be released, unless in each individual case he 
should produce satisfactory proofs, that such person was a 
natural born American citizen, in which case he would be im- 
mediately released from prison upon the usual terms of ex- 
change, if he had been a volunteer in their service, or if an 
impressed seamen, freely and without exchange. The pro- 
tections and certificates of citizenship, with which American 
seamen had been generally furnished, had been repeatly de- 
clared by the admiralty to furnish no evidence in their favour, 
and these unfortunate men, confined in prison without the 
privilege of communicating with their friends, or with the 
American agent, were unable generally to procure any other. 
Mr. Beasley exerted himself to procure the requisite testimo- 
ny in all the cases, which came to his knowledge ; and out of 
one hundred and eighty-four, presented by him to the British 
admiralty, from the 9th of March, to the 18th of September. 
1813, he obtained only one discharge. The British were in 
possession of several thousand American seamen on board 
their ships of war, and were determined to retain them^ Some 
of these persons were found on board their ships in most of 
the battles fought and captures made. Many times, however, 
in actual engagement, their services were no benefit to their 
oppressors. 

Impressed Seamen treated as Prisoners of War, and confin- 
ed in Dartmoor. Those who could not be induced to bear 
arms against their country, were conveyed to Dartmoor pri- 
son, and there confined until the end of the war. The Amer- 
ican government could not exchange them, without in some 
measure recognising the right of the British government to 
treat them as prisoners. Most of them, therefore, were con- 
fined in Dartmoor, hopeless of exchange. 

Description of Dartmoor Prison. This dep6t is situate ia 
the county of Devon, fifteen miles north-east of the naval sta 



4-2'6 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CHAr.iO 

tion at Plymouth, twciity-six north-west of Exeter, the capital 
of the county, and two luindred miles south-west of London. 
It is elevated seventeen hundred feet above the level of the 
sea, in a region of country, uneven, barren, and dreary. It 
consists of seven prisons, each calculated to contain from 
eleven to fifteen hundred men. The prisoners are under the 
care of an agent, appointed by, and subject to the control of, 
the transport board. Two thousand militia, and two compa- 
nies of royal artillery are stationed here to guard the prison- 
ers. This is the general depot for all that are taken and 
brought into England, until they are exchanged. The pri- 
sons are all strongly built of stone, and surrounded by two 
circular walls, the outer one measuring a mile in circumfer- 
ence, and enclosing an area of fifty acres. Upon the inner 
wall are military walks for centinels. Within it are iron pal- 
lisadoes ten feet high, and twenty feet distant from each other : 
adjoining the outer wall, are guard-houses on the north, east, 
and south sides. There are three separate yards which com- 
municate with each other, through a passage one hundred and 
twenty feet long, and twenty broad, guarded on each side by 
iron bars, over wliich, and fronting the prison No. 4, is a walk 
for the centinels. Opposite this passage, is the market square : 
a person passing into either yard, has to pass through two 
iron gates ; so that all communication between the yards, may 
be stopped at pleasure by shutting the gates. The first yard 
contains the prisons, Nos. 1, 2, and 3. The second con- 
tains. No. 4, and is allotted to blacks, and separated from the 
other yards by two stone walls, fourteen feet high. The third 
yard contains Nos. 5, 6, and 7. Within the first yard, and 
just north of No. 1, stands the condemned prison, a place of 
punishment for various offences committed by the prisoners ; 
this is capable of containing only about sixty prisoners, who 
are allowed a blanket and straw, instead of their ordinary 
bedding, and are kept on short allowance ; a small aperture 
near the roof admits the only light. Fronting the first yard. 
is a wall separating it from the hospital ; from the third yard 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 429, 

is another wall separating it from the barracks. The market 
place, fronting the passage leading from one yard to the other 
is nearly square, and capable of containing five thousand 
persons. The market is open every day except Sundays, at 
eleven, and closed at two ; where the country people come to 
trade with the prisoners. At the upper part of the market 
square, are two storehouses, one for the prisoners, and one 
for the king's stores. The other buildings attached to the es- 
tablishment, are the houses for the agent, physician, clerks, 
and turnkeys. To enter either of the prison yards from with- 
out, a person must pass through five gates. Fronting the outer 
gate, is a reservoir of water which supplies the establishment, 
brought the distance of five miles. The hospital department 
is under the superintendence of a physician and two assist- 
ants, f The American prisoners of war, comprehending im- 
pressed seamen, the balance of all prisoners taken, or 
brought into America after the exchanges were made, being 
transported to England, and all maritime prisoners carried 
into Great Britain, were confined, and strictly guarded in this 
depot.* /On the 6th of April, 1815, they had accumulated 
to five thousand six hundred. 

The prisoners were every night at a given signal, soon af- 
ter sunset, obliged to retire to their rooms, and were there 
locked up until morning. At the same time the gates were 
all closed ; and numerous sentinels on the walls, and at the 
gates and avenues. 

Escape of Lieutenant R. G. An escape seemed impossi- 
ble ; one, however, was attempted by Mr. R. G. lieutenant of 
the privateer Rattlesnake, which was finally attended with 
success. He procured a sufficient quantity of old rope yarn, 
with which he constructed a rope eighty feet in length, and ob- 
tained a^ uniform and a great coat resembling those which the 



* Relation by an American ot£cer, who had been prisoner in Dart- 
moor, published in Essex Register, June 1815.— Saiem, Mass. 



43« HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. iiU" 

sentinels wore while on duty ; having made these prepara- 
tions, he obtained the countersign for six guineas, from one: 
of the guards ; and a short time previous to the rehef at mid- 
night, silently lowered himself down by his rope^ from the 
window of his room in the upper loft, eighty feet from the 
ground ; armed with a dagger, and accoutred as a sentinel, 
with his umbrella under his great coat, in the manner the 
guards usually carried their guns while on duty. He conceal- 
ed himself under the walls of the prison until the relief came 
round, and when the gates opened to relieve the guard, he 
boldly marched up and was challenged by two sentinels at 
the first gate, and the countersign demanded ; this he readily 
gave, and was directed to pass on by the sentinel who chal- 
lenged him : but the other who was the one that had received 
the bribe, said no, it was one of the American prisoners, and 
immediately seized him. The lieuLenant, finding his case des- 
perate, and indignant at the villain who had received his mo- 
ney only to betray him, sprung upon him with his dagger, and 
would have taken exemplary vengeance, at the expense ol 
his own life, but he was immediately overpowered by the 
guards, taken back and confined in the black hole or con- 
demned prison, without light, furnished only with a little 
straw, and fed on bread and water for ten days. He was then 
taken out, brought before the superintendent, and required 
to give up the name of the person, from whom he received 
the countersign. Had the sentinel been faithful to the lieu- 
tenant, no consideration would have induced him to give 
him up ; but as the soldier had been guilty of a double 
treachery, he was under no honorary obligation to conceal 
his name. He informed the superintendent of the name and 
conduct of the villain, who received three hundred lashes for 
his villany. Mr. G. being now restored to the condition of 
ordinary prisoners, and having preserved his accoutrements, 
determined to make another attempt, notwithstanding the 
guards were doubled in consequence of the first. He again 
obtained the countersign for three guineas, let himself down 



-yu. nisTOKY OP the late wak. 431 

in the same manner as before, mixed with the guards at^'the 
tiraeofrehcf, and succeeded in passing all the barriers, after 
being stopped and examined seventeen times. No lime was 
to be lost, the night was fast spending, when he gave Dart- 
moor prison a last look, and made his way across the fields, 
towards the coast, w'ithout money or friends, and apprehen- 
sive of being arrested by every person he should meet. Hav- 
ing reached the coast, weary and hungry, he found a boat 
eighteen feet long, furnished with one oar; without provision, 
water, compass, or any guide, he put himself to sea in this 
little bark for the coast of France, a distance of one hundred 
miles. Having obtained a good offing, he converted his um- 
brella and a part of his clothes into a sail, and with his oar in 
the stern,steered for the continent. About half-passage over, 
the sea running high, and the wind fresh, he discovered a brig 
of war near him, he immediately hauled in his sail, and made 
from the brig. Fortunately he was too small an object to be 
discovered, and passed her unnoticed. After a perilous voy- 
age of thirty-six hours, he landed in safety on the coast of 
France, and soon afterwards found a passage to the United 
States. 

/ Immediately after the ratification of the treaty of peace by 
the prince regent, the third article of which provides " that 
all prisoners of w^ar taken on either side, shall be restored as 
soon as practicable," Colonel Beasley applied to the British 
government for the discharge of the prisoners confined at 
Dartmoor, proposing as a condition, that they should be con- 
sidered still as prisoners of war, and not at liberty to serve un- 
til regularly exchanged in the event of the treaty's not being 
ratified by the American government. This proposition was 
refused, and the prisoners still held in custody. Intelligence 
of the ratification of the treaty by the President, arrived in 
England on the 20th of March ; arrangements, however, 
were not completed for the discharge of the prisoners and 
their transportation to America, until the last of April; the 
governments not agreeing which should bear the expense of 



i 

1 J2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20. 

transportation. / The intervening time to persons who had 
been so long confined, was a period of much anxiety, and 
disquietude. A great and increasing misunderstanding exist- 
ed between the prisoners and Captain Shortland the superin- 
tendent. 

Disturbances at Dartmoor. On the 6th of April, some of 
the prisoners, as a matter of amusement, had perforated the 
walls of one of the buildings, and made a hole sufficient to ad- 
mit a person to pass through. Captain Shortland observing 
this, and seeing also, what he apprehended to be some unu- 
sual movements among the prisoners, supposed they were at- 
tempting to make an escape. He ordered the alarm bell to 
be rung, a signal for calling together the military. The pri- 
soners, very lew of whom had any knowledge of the perfora- 
tion, and none had any idea of making an escape, rushed out 
into the adjoining yards, to inquire into the cause of the alarm. 
A scene of confusion and disorder now ensued. The military 
assembled at the sound of the alarm bell ; and by order of 
the superintendent, fired on the prisoners. They attempted 
to regain their prisons, but the confusion and crowd was so 
great, that a considerable time elapsed, during which the guard 
continued firing into the passages where the crowd was the 
greatest ; and after the gi-eater part of the prisoners had re- 
gained the buildings, several of the last were shot down. 

Slaughter of the Prisoners, Seven were killed outright, 
thirty-three wounded, some of whom died soon after of their 
Avounds. This transaction was viewed by the prisoners as a 
wanton act of cruelty and murder on the part of the superin- 
tendent. As they were then in hourly expectation of being 
honourably discharged with the means of returning to their 
native country, there could be no possible inducement for an 
escape ; and had the prison doors been opened under these 
circumstances, no one would have gone out. They supposed, 
therefore, that the alarm and confusion was created by the 
superintendent, as an excuse and cover for his previous rruel- 
ties and extortion. 



tUl4. inSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 433 

By an arrangement between Messrs. Clay and Gallatin, 
then in England on their return from Ghent, and Lord Cas- 
tlereagh,a joint commission of two persons, one nominated by 
each party, was agreed upon to examine into the subject and 
report the facts. The commission, consisting of Charles King 
and Francis S. Larpent, reported a statement of facts fronj 
the testimony of the prisoners, the sperintendent, and guards, 
which divided the blame equally between them.* Captain 
Shortland, in consequence of his conduct in this transaction, was 
discharged, and a person more acceptable to the prisoners ap- 
pointed in his room ; and tranquillity restored for the few days 
which the prisoners remained in confinement after this evenU 

Proceedings of Massachusetts. A considerable majority 
of the people of New-England had been opposed to the war 
fromi the beginning. Of the twenty-nine members from the 
New-England states in the house of representatives when 
war was declared, nine only voted in favour of the measure, 
and twenty against it. The votes in the senate were two in 
favour and eight against the war. 

The system adopted for the prosecution of the war was as 
much at variance with the public sentiment in New-England, a^ 
the measure itself. Withdrawing the regular force from the 
sea-board, for the conquest of Canada, and leaving the coasts 
to be protected by occasional calls of the mihtia, was univer- 
sally condemned by the advocates of peace. They consider- 
ed the attempt to conquer Canada as unjust in itself, extremely 
hazardous and expensive, and productive of no solid advan- 
tage to the United States. If we must have war, say they, let it 
be a war ol protection and defence on land, and an active, 
offensive war against British commerce on the ocean. The 
calamities to which the inhabitants of the sea-board had been 
subjected, and the disasters on the Canadian frontier, they 
claimed, fully justified their views of the subject. The dis- 



I iij Mi'r 



* Report of the CommUsioners. 
55 



434 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, 20. 

tresses of the war were felt with peculiar severity by the in- 
habitants of the coast of Massachusetts, and the ncighbour- 
iag islands. Much of their soil is unproductive, and their 
principal dependence is on their fisheries in the summer, for 
Supplies the succeeding winter, which must be water-borne 
ft-om the markets where they are obtained. The British 
squadrons on the coast entirely obstructed their sea-fisheries, 
and in a great measure prevented their obtaining their neces- 
sary winter supplies. More than a hundred flourishing towns 
en a sea-board, including its various indents of six hundred 
miles in extent, were exposed to that war of devastation 
which Admiral Cochrane had threatened, and was carrying 
into execution with unremitting severity. Many of these 
towns were obliged to save themselves from entire destruc- 
tion by heavy ransoms. 

The unfortunate controversy between the general govern- 
Bient and the New-England state governments, in relation to 
the constitutional powers of each over the militia, ended in the 
determination of the general government not to pay or sup- 
port any militia, who were not called out by, and subjected 
to the orders of the commanding general of the district, or by 
him received into service ; and in the determination of the state 
Governments not to subject their militia to such orders. This 
threw the whole burden of defending an extensive coast and 
frontier upon the state governments 5 while they were obhged 
to contribute their proportion of direct and indirect taxes to 
the general expenses of a war which they condemned. All 
that part of the province of Maine lying eastward of Penob- 
scot river, comprehending a large and valuable tract of terri- 
tory and numerous inhabitants, was occupied by the British, 
apparently with the intention of making a permanent estab- 
lishment. 

To th-e legislature of Massachusetts, convened in January 
1814, the petitions of thirty-five towns were presented, stating 
in strong terms the grievances they suffered by the war, the 
embargo, and other measures of the general government. 



I«14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAli. 433 

The committee to whom these memorials were referred, after 
reciprocating most of the sentiments they contained, recom- 
mended certain resolutions, declaring the embargo laws un- 
constitutional and void. The report concludes with ob- 
serving that, as the well grounded complaints of the people 
constitute a continued claim on the government until their 
grievances are redressed, they recommend that the several 
memorials be delivered to the governor, with a request that 
he or his successor would cause them to be laid before the 
next legislature. This report was accepted by both houses. 
Special Meeting of the Massachusetts Legislature, October 
1814. A new election of all the branches of the government 
took place in the April following, and the governor called a 
special meeting of the legislature the succeeding October. 
In his address at the opening of the session, he stated, " that 
the war in which the country was involved, had assumed an 
aspect so threatening and destructive, and at the same time 
the troops of the United States having been withdrawn to aid 
in the operations against Canada, he had found it necessary 
to order out large detachments of militia for the defence of 
the sea-board ; that the limited sources of revenue, which 
the state had retained in its own power, bore no proportion 
to the expenses incurred in its defence ; that the situation of 
the state was peculiarly distressing. By the terms of the 
constitution, they had been led to rely on the government of 
the union for defence. They had resigned to that govern- 
ment the revenues of the state, with the expectation that this 
object would not be neglected ; but that government has de- 
clared war against the most powerful maritime nation, whose 
fleets can approach every section of our sea-board, to an 
extent of five or six hundred miles, without providing the 
means of defence. Though we may be convinced that the 
war, in its commencement, was unnecessary and unjust, and has 
been prosecuted without any useful or practical object against 
the inhabitants of Canada, while our sea-coast has been left 
almost defenceless ; though in a war thus commenced, we 
niav have declined to aftbrd our volunfarv aid to offensive 



436 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR, Chaf. 2C»- 

operations, there can be no doubt of our right and our duty to 
defend our dweUings and possessions against any hostile at- 
tack by which they are menaced.*" 

In a subsequent message, the governor informed the legis- 
lature, that " he had communicated to the war-office the mea- 
sures taken for the defence of the state ; and requesting in- 
formation whether the expenses of the militia called out in 
its defence would be ultimately borne by the United States : 
that he had received the secretary's answer, explaining the 
views and prmciples of the executive in regard to the defence 
of the eastern frontier. 

Letter of the Secrelary of State to Governor Strong re- 
lating to the Militia. " It was anticipated," the secretary 
remarks, " soon after the commeneement of the war, 
that while it lasted, every part of the union, especially the 
sea-board, would be exposed to some degree of danger, 
greater or less, according to the spirit with which the war 
might be waged; it was the duty of the government to make 
the best provision against the danger which might be practi- 
cable, and to continue it as long as the cause existed. The 
arrangement of the United States into military districts, with a 
certain portion of the regular force of artillery and infantry 
under an officer of the regular army, of experience and high 
rank, in each military district, with power to call for the mili- 
tia as circumstances might require, was adopted with a view" 
to afford the best protection to every part that circumstances 
would admit, li was presumed that the establishment of a 
small force of this kind, constituting the first elements of an 
army in each district, to be aided by the mihtia in case of 
emergency, would be adequate to its defence. Such a force of 
infantry and artillery might repel small predatory parties, and 
form a rallying point for the militia, at the more exposed and 
important stations, in case of more formidable invasions. A 
regular officer of experience, stationed in the district, acting 



• Governor Strong's speech to the MassachuaettB legislature, October 
1814. 



J8i4, HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 437 

under the authority and pursuing the will of the government, 
might digest plans for its defence, select proper points for 
works, and superintend the erection of them, call for supplies 
of ordnance and munitions of war, call for militia, and dis- 
pose of the whole force. These duties, it was believed, could 
not be performed with equal advantage by the officers of the 
militia,who, beingcalledinto service for short periods, could not 
have it in their power, however well qualified they might be in 
other respects, to digest plans and preserve that chain of con- 
nexion and system in the whole business which seemed to 
be indispensable. On great consideration, this arrangement 
was deemed the most eligible that could be adopted ; indeed 
none occurred that could be put in competition with it. In 
this mode the national government acts by its proper organs, 
over whom it has control, and for whose engagements it is 
reponsible. 

" The measures which may be adopted by a state govern- 
ment for its defence, must be considered its own measures, 
not those of the United States. The expenses attending 
them are chargeable to the state and not to the United States. 
A different construction would lead to the most pernicious 
consequences. If a state could call out its militia, and sub- 
ject the United States to the expense of supporting them, at 
its pleasure ; the national authority would cease as to 
that important object, and the nation be charged with ex- 
penses, in the measures producing which the national govern- 
ment had no agency, and over which it could have no con- 
trol. By taking the defence of the state into its own hands,^ 
and out of those of the general government, a policy is intro- 
duced, on the tendency of which all comment is unnecessary. 
If a close UDfOii of the states, and a harmonious co-operation 
between them and the general government, are at any time 
necessary for the preservation of their independence, and 
their inestimable liberties, which were achieved by the blood 
and valour of their ancestors, that time has now arrived. 
From this view of the subject, it follows, that if the force 



438 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Ghap. 21). 

^vhrch has been put into service by the executive of Massa- 
chusetts has been required by General Dearborn, the com- 
manding officer of the district, or has been received by him, 
and put under his command, the expenses will be defrayed by 
the United States. But if this force has been called into 
fiervice by authority of the state, independently of General 
Dearborn, and not placed under him as commander of the 
district, the state of Massachusetts is chargeable with the ex- 
pense, and not the United States. The general government 
has no other alternative but to adhere to a system of defence 
adopted on great consideration with the best view to the 
general welfare, or to abandon it, and with it a principle held 
.^acred, thereby shrinking from its duty in a moment of great 
peril, weakening the guards deemed necessary for the public 
safety, and opening the door to other consequences no less 
dangerous."* 

Report of the Committee of Massachusetts Legislature. In 
die house of representatives the governor's message and ac- 
companying documents were referred to a select committee, 
who reported, that " the unhappy and ruinous war declared 
against Great Britain, has assumed an aspect of great and im- 
mediate danger to the commonwealth. The persevering in- 
vasion of Canada, has at length produced, as a natural con- 
sequence, the invasion of our Atlantic Irontier and river 
towns. A portion of the territory of this state is already in 
the actual occupation of the enemy, anu the sea-coast in all 
such ports as may be deemed assailable is openly menaced 
with desolation. To defend our soil and repel the invader, 
no force or means, bearing any proportion to the emergency, 
have been provided by the national government. It was just- 
ly to have been expected that before hostilities were pro- 
voked by a formidable enemy, or that at least at some period 
subsequent to their commencement, means of defence and 



* Letter of secretary of state to Governor Stronjr. 



ifil4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 4S'J 

protection would have been afforded to a sea-coast, so ex- 
tended and so exposed to the ravages of an enemy as that of 
Massachusetts. But events forbid a refiance on such expecta-- 
tions. The principal part of theregular force, raised, or at any 
time quartered in this state, has been withdrawn tothe war on the 
Canada border. The fortifications, until lately strengthened 
by the exertions of ourown citizens, were essentially defective, 
and the navy in a situation calculated to invite rather than 
repel aggression, and to require protection instead of afford- 
ing it. Indeed, when the circumstances under which the war 
was declared and has been prosecuted are reviewed, in con- 
nexion with the utter neglect of the ordinary preparation for 
such a state, the inference is fairly warranted that the American 
cabinet intended no other means of defence for this state, but 
such as a brave and free people would feel themselves impel- 
led to make by their own senseof danger and love of country. 
That it relied upon the passions and sufferings incident to a 
state of war, to overcome the repugnance so universally felt 
by our citizens to the unjust and ruinious contest, and to 
leave them at liberty to drain our population and our trea- 
sures, for the prosecution of their favourite enterprise. But 
when the commonwealth was found to be in danger of inva- 
sion, the people have not paused to consider the motives and 
objects of their national rulers in leaving them defenceless ; 
but, at the summons of their governor, they have repaired t© 
the standard of their country, with a zeal and alacrity which 
demonstrate, that the principles which unite men of every 
class and description in the determination to conquer of die 
in its defence, are not enfeebled by party distinctions. But 
one spirit animates the whole mass of our citizens with the in- 
vincible resolution of defending their native land against the in- 
vasions of an enemy, who has not discriminated between those 
■who anxiously sought peace, and those who wantonly pro- 
voked the war. It is, however, a fact not to be disguised, 
that while the people of this state, with the blessing of heaven, 
have confidence in the sufficiency of their resources, for de- 



440 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Cudv. 20. 

fending their own soil, if applied exclusively to this object, 
yet they cannot be supposed equal to this, and also compe- 
tent to respond to the heavy and increasing demands of the 
national government. The state of the national treasury, as 
exhibited by the proper officer, requires an augmentation of 
existing taxes ; and if, in addition to these, the people of Mas- 
sachusetts, deprived of their commerce and harassed by a 
formidable enemy, are compelled to provide for the idispen- 
sable duty of self-defence, it must soon become impossible for 
them to sustain this burden. There remains for them, there- 
fore, no alternative, but submission to the enemy, or the con- 
trol of their own resources to repel aggressions. It is impossi- 
ble to hesitate in making the election. This people are not 
ready for conquest or submission. But being ready and de- 
termined to defend themselves, and having no other adequate 
means of defence, they have the greatest need of those re- 
sources derivable from themselves, which the national gov- 
ernment has hitherto thought proper to employ elsewhere. 
This disastrous condition of public affairs has been forced 
upon Massachusetts, not merely against her consent, but in 
opposition to her most earnest protestations. From the mo- 
ment that the administration, yielding to its own passions, and 
calculations of party power, commenced its system of com- 
mercial hostility to Great Britain, and of conformity to the 
views of the late tyrant of France, its tendency to involve the 
nation in the most needless and cruel embarrassments was 
distinctly foreseen, and declared by former legislatures. It 
was never doubted but that a war with Great Britain would 
be accompanied with an extinction of commerce, by the 
banishment of our sailors, the desolation of our coast, the 
blockade and invasion of our sea-ports, the failure of national 
credit, the necessity of oppressive taxes, and the consumma- 
tion of national ruin by an alliance with the late despot of 
Europe, from which greatest of all calamities we have been 
preserved only by his fall. Of all these evils were our 
rulers forewarned by Massachusetts, whose vital interests 



1314. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 44) 

were thus put in jeopardy, and they were implored by every 
«:onsideralion of policy and humanity, to slay their hands 
from the cruel and wanton sacrifice of the interests of tiiose 
who asked from them nothing but the privilege of pursuing 
their own industrious callings. But government, deaf to this i 
voice, and listening to men distinguished in their native state / 
only by their disloyalty to its interests, have affected to con- 
sider the patriotic citizens of this great state, as tainted with 
disaffection to the union, and predilection for Great Britain, 
and have lavished the public treasury in vain attempts to 
fix by evidence this odious imputation. Thus dishonoured, ; 
and deprived of all influence in the national councils, this ,f 
state has been dragged into an unnatural and distressing war, 
and its safety and liberties endangered." 

The committee declare their conviction that " the constitu- 
tion of the United States, under the administration of the 
persons in power, has failed to secure to the commonwealth 
of Massachusetts, and to the eastern section ol the union. 
those equal rights and benefits, which were the great objects 
of its formation. These grievances justify and require vigo- J 
rous, persevering, and peaceable exertions, to unite those who | 
realize the sufferings j and foresee the dangers of the country, \ 
in some system of measures to obtain relief, for which the | 
ordinary mode of procuring amendments to the constitution ! 
affords no reasonable expectation in season to prevent the \ 
completion of its ruin. The people, however, possess the I 
means of certain redress, and when their safety, which is the 1 
supreme law, is in question, these means should be promptly ( 
applied. The framers of the constitution made provision to 
amend defects which were known to be incidental to every 
human institution, and the provision itself was not less liable 
to be found defective, than other parts of the instrument. 
When this deficiency becomes apparent, no reason can pre- 
clude the right of the whole people, who were parties to it. 
to adopt another, and it is presumed, that a spirit of equity 
and justice, enhghtencd by experience, would enable them 

,56 



442 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. ti\h 

to reconcile conflicting interests, and obviate the principal 
cause of these dissentions, which unfit government for a state 
of peace and of war, and so to amend the constitution as to 
give vigour and duration to the union of the states. But as 
a proposition for such a convention from a single state would 
probably be unsuccessful, and our danger admits not of de- 
lay, the committee recommend that in the first instance a 
conference be invited between those states, the affinity of 
whose interests is the closest, and whose habits of intercourse 
from their local situation or other causes are the most fre- 
quent, to the end that by a comparison of their sentiments 
and views, some mode of defence suited to the circumstances 
and exigencies of those states, and measures for accelerating 
the return of prosperity, may be devised ; and also to enable 
the delegates from those states, should they deem it expedi- 
ent, to lay the foundation for a radical reform in the national 
compact by inviting to a future convention, a deputation from 
^11 the states in the union." The report concludes with re- 
commending the raising of an army of ten thousand men for 
the defence of the state ; and the appointment of twelve 
persons, as delegates from the legislature, to meet and confer 
with delegates from the states of New-England, or any oi 
them, upon the subjects of their public grievances, and con- 
cerns, and upon the best means of preserving our resources, 
land defence against the enemy ; and to devise and suggest 
for the adoption by those respective states, such measures as 
they may deem expedient, and also to take measures, if they 
shall think proper for procuring a convention of delegates 
from all the United States, in order to revise the constitution 
thereof; and more effectually to secure the support and at- 
tachment of all the people, by placing all upon the basis of a 
fair representation.* 

* Report of Committee of the House of Representatives of Massa- 
chusetts, Octobej 18H. 



1814. HISTORY OF THfi LAl^ WAK- 443 

A committee of the senate upon the same subject made a 
report to that body upon the same principles. The resolu- 
tions recommended by the committee of the house of repre- 
sentatives passed both houses, and delegates were appointed 
to meet at Hartford on the 1 5th day of the following Decem- 
ber, to confer with such as may be chosen by any or all of 
the other New-England states upon the subjects referred to 
in the resolutions. 

Protest of Minority. These proceedings of the legislature 
wore opposed in every stage of them by a respectable mi- 
nority of both houses. In the senate a protest was drawij 
up and signed by thirteen members, and placed on their jour- 
nals, stating, that " these propositions are at this time extra- 
ordinary, alarming,' and pernicious. The protestants believe 
the constitution of the United States to be the most perfect 
system of republican government which human wisdom 
could invent, established upon the broad principles of sove- 
reignty in the states, liberty in the people, and energy in the 
federal head, and effected by the zeal, concessions, and can- 
dour of those enlightened patriots, who had carried America 
through a war of unparalleled suffering to independence and 
peace. They had hoped that neither the ambition of party, 
nor the test of experiment, would have so soon led to the cort- 
clusion, " that it had failed to secure to any section of th-e 
union, those equal rights and benefits which were the great ob- 
jects of its formation.'''' Much less was it to be supposed, 
that under the pretext of reconcihng conflicting interests, in a 
lime of war and invasion, and when our constitutional agents 
were attempting to negotiate a peace, we should promulgate 
the sentiments to our friends and our enemies, that the gov- 
ernment was xinfit for peace or war; that a radical reform, 
or another constitution, was essential to the salvation of the 
people. 

There are other objects, they further remark, more alarm- 
ing in their nature, and more pernicious in their tendency. It 
vvas wisely provided by the constitution, that no state should 



-i4'i Hlt^TORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 20. 

enter into any compact or agreement with another without the 
consent of congress. It was probably foreseen that disap- 
pointed and ambitious men would attempt to form associations 
prejudicial to the general welfare, and dangerous to the union 
of the states. That these men would excite local jealousies, 
and attempt geographical distinctions ; and that despairing of 
gaining the whole, they would attempt a severance that they 
might govern a part. It was therefore prudent and proper 
that these compacts should be under the control of the states 
and people represented in congress. It is therefore with 
great solicitude and concern that we are led to inquire, what 
public grievances can warrant the assembUng of delegates 
of the states of New-England, or what affinity of interest can 
authorize them to devise means of preserving their own re- 
sources to themselves ? The respective states of New-Eng- 
land can now preserve all their resources, except such as are 
under the constitutional control of the United States. Will 
ihey combine to take these? Such a combination would be 
a resistance of federal authority. A civil war would become 
inevitable. The enemy would profit by our dissentions ; 
our union would be dissolved, our country conquered, and 
our liberty extinguished. Our country is now engaged in a 
just, and of late a successful war. Our resources abundant, 
our government adequate, and our- citizens brave, enterprising, 
and intelligent ; union alone can secure us the blessings of 
an honourable peace. While our commissioners are nego- 
tiating with the most earnest solicitude for their country's 
welfare ; while our army and navy are defending the soil, and 
maintaining the honour and glory of the country, and our 
brave yeomanry are rushing to our shores to meet and repel 
the invader, and the spirit of party is becoming absorbed in 
the spirit of patriotism ; why should Massachusetts, great, 
powerful, and respectable as she is, form a combination, 
which will defeat the hopes of the friends of peace, and en- 
courage a powerful and vindictive enemy ? With these views 
»nd fc':'lings. the remonstrants cannot but deeply regret that 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 445 

a proposition, so unpromising of good, destitute of important 
ostensible objects, but full of distrust, jealousy, and mischief, 
and calculated to alarm, discourage, and divide the people, 
should ever have been adopted by the senate of Massachu- 
setts. Suspicions have been indulged that Massachusetts 
would take the lead of the New-England states in a combi- 
nation to dissolve the union ; that as a preliminary step, a 
course similar to that contemplated by these resolutions 
would be adopted, and that a period of war would be select- 
ed for the purpose. By the adoption of these resolutions, 
these suspicions will grow into a settled belief. The raising 
an army of ten thousand men, at the expense and under the 
command of the state, will have Httle tendency to diminish 
this alarm. However honourable and patriotic the motives 
may be for raising such an army, and refusing to place them 
under the orders and pay of the general government, we havo 
strong apprehensions that the people of this commonwealth 
will have too much reason to believe that the honour to com- 
mand will not compensate for the burthen of support ; that 
a separate army comports too well with a separate sove- 
reignty, and that these men may at some future period be 
employed to settle domestic quarrels, or enforce local inter- 
ests. 

From the resolutions and preamble, and circumstances 
attending the debate, we have strong reasons to apprehend, 
that propositions for a separate peace may grow out of a 
meeting of delegates from the New-England states. Should 
such propositions be made by the British government to the 
convention, and the terms, as they probably would be, very 
flattering to this section of the union, the temptation to mo- 
mentary gain, might induce a compact with the enemy, in- 
troduce an army of foreign mercenaries, produce a civil war. 
and end in a subjugation of both sections to the power of 
Great Britain. Ambition has destroyed every other republic 
pn earth. The United States stand alone, like a solitary 
rock in the midst of the ocean, surrounded and assailed bv 



446 HISTORY OF THE LATK WAR. CaAt.tiU. 

storms and tempests : in vain may wc look for aid, except: 
from union, energy, and heaven.* 

A protest, containing similar sentiments, was drawn up, and 
signed by seventy-six members, and presented to the house 
of representatives, with a request that it might be placed on 
the journals of that body ; from some expressions which were 
deemed disrespectful to the legislature, it was refused a place 
on the journals, and published only in the periodical papers 
of the day. 

Proceedings of the other N. E. States. These proceeding? 
of the Massachusetts legislature were transmitted to the four 
other New-England states, requesting their concurrence in 
the measure. The sentiments of the bodies to whom they 
were addressed, were not in full accordance with those oi 
Massachusetts. No one doubted the right, secured to the 
people by the constitution, peaceably to assemble and apply 
to the government for the redress of their grievances. Fe^v 
of the citizens of this section of the union doubted the fact, 
that the war, in the course it had taken, bore with peculiar 
M'eight upon Massachusetts and the other New-England 
states. But the measure of calling a convention at the time 
and for the purposes expressed in those resolutions was 
highly inexpedient. One principal feature presented by 
fhem, was a proposition for a meeting of delegates from the 
New-England states, to confer upon the best means of pre- 
servincf and controUing their resources. It was obvious that 
a refusal on the part of the states, to permit the collection of 
the public revenue, must be met by the general government 
with a force adequate to ensure a collection ; and that the 
result must be an abandonment of the measure on the parr 
of the states, a dissolution of the union, or a civil war. 

The other important object contemplated by the resolu- 
tions, was a radical change in the national constitution, or the 

" Protest of the minority of the senate of Massachusetts, Octoher 
1814. 



t814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 44: 

I'ormation of a new one, to he effected by a convention of all 
the states. The present form of government had been in 
operation twenty-five years, twelve of which it had been ad- 
ministered by one of the great political parties into which 
the United States were divided, and thirteen by the other ; 
and both in turn had declared it to be the perfection of hu- 
man wisdom. No such radical change appeared either de- 
sirable or practicable. If any amendments were deemed 
necessary, the constitution itself provided a mode by which 
they could be obtained, very different from the one proposed 
by the resolutions. But if alterations were wanted in one 
way or the other, the time appeared peculiarly inauspicious. 
With an enemy at their doors, ready to profit by their dissen- 
tions, and the spirit of party in a state of high fermentation, 
the people of the United States were illy qualified calmly to 
deliberate upon, and adopt radical changes in their frame of 
government. Intelligence had just then been received from 
their negotiators for peace, that the British claimed, as a pre- 
liminary, a cession of a large portion of the state of Ohio, 
and of the western territories to the Indians as a permanent 
barrier, between the American settlements and the Canadas, 
and that they advanced other claims which could be addressed 
only to a conquered nation. The necessity of united exer- 
tions was universally felt, and it was a subject of deep regret 
that any measures should be put in operation, presenting an 
aspect of a divided people, and thereby giving encourage- 
ment to the extravagant claims of the enemy. 

Vermont. The legislature of Vermont declined taking any 
measures upon the subject. 

New-Hampshire, The executive council of New-Hamp- 
shire refused to call a meeting of the legislature upon the oc- 
casion, and of course no delegates were appointed from that 
state. 

Connecticut. In Connecticut the resolutions and accom- 
panying documents were referred to a joint committee of both 
branches of the legislature, who made a report reciprocating 



44a illSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap SO. 

many of the sentiments contained in the resolutions ; but th«; 
cautious and prudent policy of that state led them to meet 
their brethren of Massachusetts upon constitutional grounds 
only. The committee observe that the documents transmit- 
ted from Massachusetts, present an eligible mode of com- 
bining the wisdom of New-England, in devising, on full con- 
sultation, a proper course to be adopted consistent with our 
obligations to the United States, and recommend that seven 
persons be appointed delegates from this state, to meet the 
delegates from Massachusetts, and of any other of the New- 
England States, at Hartford, on the 15th of the following 
December, and to confer with them on the subjects proposed 
by the resolutions of the legislature of that commonwealth, 
and upon any other subjects that may come before them, for 
the purpose of devising and recommending measures for the 
safety and welfare of these states ; provided that such mea- 
sures only shall be devised and recommended, as may con- 
sist with their obligations as members of the union.* 

Rhode-Island. The legislature of Rhode-Island had pre- 
viously passed resolutions, authorizing and requesting their 
captain general, in case of the invasion of the neighbouring 
states, to march immediately to their assistance, such part of 
the military force as he should think expedient; and to assure 
the executives of the neighbouring states of the readiness of 
the state of Rhode-Island to render them all the aid in their 
power in case of invasion, or imminent danger thereof, 
and to solicit their co-operation, and speedy aid and assist- 
ance to the state of Rhode-Island under similar circumstances. 
Communications, in pursuance of these resolutions, had been 
made by Governor Jones to the executives of Massachusetts 
and Connecticut, and cordially reciprocated. The same 
controversy subsisted between the government of the state of 
Rhode-Island and the general government, in relation to the 



* Report of the committee of the legislature of Connecticut on the 
Massachusetts resolutions. 



18 14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 449 

militia, as in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and with the 
same result. Rhode-Island had been left to provide for her 
own defence. The safe and convenient harbour of New- 
port, and the rich towns accessible by water, presented very 
tempting objects to the cupidity of the enemy. From the 
smallness of its size, that state was the least able to raise a 
force sufficient to repel an invader. They were from these 
circumstances the more ready to listen to any measure that 
promised them aid from other states, A joint letter from the 
president of the senate, and speaker of the house of repre- 
sentatives of Massachusetts, covering their resolutions on the 
subject of the convention, was addressed to the governor of 
Rhode-Island, with a request to lay the same before the legis- 
lature, inviting them to appoint delegates to the proposed 
convention, stating their objects to be to deliberate on the 
dangers to which the eastern section of the union is exposed 
by the course of the war, and which there is too much reason 
to beheve will thicken round them in its progress ; and to 
devise, if practicable, measures of safety and defence, which 
may be consistent with the preservation of their resources 
from total ruin, and adapted to their local situation, mutual 
relations, and habits, and not repugnant to their obligations 
as members of the union. The letter further remarks, that 
when convened for this object, which admits not of delay, it 
seems also expedient to submit to their consideration, the in- 
quiry whether the interests of these states do not demand 
that persevering endeavours be used by each to procure such 
amendments to be effected in the national constitution as may 
secure to them equal advantages, and whether if in their judg- 
ment they should be deemed impracticable under the existing 
provisions for amending that instrument, an experiment may 
be made without disadvantage to the nation for obtaining a 
convention from all the spates in the union, or such of them 

57 



4oO HISTORY OP THE LATE WA«» Chap. 20, 

as may approve of the measure with a view to obtain such 
amendments.* 

The committee of the legislature, to whom the subject wa? 
referred, slate in forcible terms the exposed situation of out 
country, complain that the means of defence have been with- 
held from them, and appropriated to distanl and unpropitious 
services, and that the whole United States military force^ 
siores, and property in that state, did but serve to increase 
their danger by offering a temptation to the enemy. Placed 
in this situation, the legislature at their last session had re- 
quested the governor to communicate with the executives ot 
the neighbouring states upon the subject of common defence, 
offering and requesting mutual assistance in case of danger,. 
•* These states," the committee remark, " had reciprocated 
their proffers ^f mutual assistance, and invited us to appoint 
•lelegates to meet those appointed by them, to confer upon. 
^ur defenceless and calamitous situation, and to devise and. 
recommend prudent measures for our relief. They there- 
fore recommend a resolution to appoint four delegates to 
meet in the proposed convention, to confer upon the common 
dangers to which these states are exposed, upon the best 
measures for co>-operating for our mutual defence against the 
enemy, and upon the measures which it may be in the power 
of these slates, consistently with their obhgations to the United 
States, to adopt, to restore and secure to the people thereof, 
their rights and privileges under the constitution of the United 
States." The report was accepted and the resolution adopt- 
ed. Ayes thirty-nine,^ noes twenty-threej 
f Meeting of the New-England Convention at Hartf<ynL Tho 
j delegates from Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, and Connecti- 
' cut, met at Hartford on the 15th day of December, 1814* 



* li«tterfrom the presitlent of the sen^^e and speaker of the bouso Ov' 
representatives of Massacliusetts to <J!overnor Jones. 

I Report of the committee of the leg'islatnre of Rhode-Island on the 
Massachusetts resolution". 



1814. illSTORY OF THE LATtE WAR 4^1 

Two gentlemen from the counties of Grafton and Cheshire in 
the state of New-Hampshire, and one from the county of 
Windham in the state of Vermont, appointed by county con- 
ventions, appeared and and were received as members. The 
meeting of this body Was viewed with much anxiety both by 
its friends and its enemies. The former looked up to it as a 
power which was to relieve them from the pressures and em- 
baitassments under which they laboured in consequence of 
the War, and to save them from the calamities with which 
they were threatened ; the other denounced it as seditious and 
treasonable, as calculated to favour the designs of the enemy, 
to embarrass the pending negotiations, protract the war, and 
increase its calamities. The members of the convention, on 
examining their powers, found they were neither able to gra- 
tify the wishes of their friends, nor could they afford anv 
reasonable ground for the apprehensions of their enemies. 
They were merely an advisory body, and restricted even iif 
that, to give no advice inconsistent with the duties of their 
constituents to the general government. Had they been dis- 
posed to recommend a negotiation for a separate peace, or a 
neutrality on the part of the New-England States ; or for those 
states to withhold their resources, and refuse to pay their pro- 
portion of the public revenue ; or to form a compact between 
these slates for mutual defence, without the consent of 
Congress ; or a division of the union ; they had no sach 
powers. Neither their friends nor their enemies had anv 
reasonable grounds for such apprehensions. Were they 
disposed to censure the administration for the commence- 
ment, continuance, or manner of conducting the war, 
abundance of matter of this kind was to be found in the vari- 
ous volumes of newspapers from the commencement of the 
war to the period of their session, and in such varieties that it 
would be difficult to add a new paragraph. What then were 
the convention to do ? For a respectable delegation, compo- 
sip.g an elite corps of an important section of the union, to 
meet at an interestmg crisis, on affairs of state, and do nothing, 
would be highly undignified, and disappoint the expectation'^ 



4o2 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. Chap. 5ii> 

of all. Called together for no very definite object, their first 
inquiry was, what would be the proper subjects for their con- 
sideration ? 

Proceedings. The duty of solving this question, they assigned 
to a committee of five of their number on the first day of their 
session, who, on the second, reported that it was proper for 
them to deliberate on — 

1st. The powers claimed by the executive of the 
United States, to determine conclusively in respect to call- 
ing out the militia of the states into the service of the United 
States, iand the dividing the United States into military dis- 
tricts, with an officer of the army in each thereof, with 
discretionary authority from the executive of the United 
States, to call for the militia to be under the command of such 
officer. 

2d. The refusal of the executive of the United States to 
supply or pay the militia of certain states called out for their 
defence, on the grounds of their not having been called out 
under the authority of the United States, or not having been 
by the executive of the state put under the command of the 
commander of the military district, and the failure of the gov- 
ernment of the United States to supply and pay the militia of 
the states, by them admitted to have been in the United States 
service. 

3d. The report of the secretary at war to congress, on fill- 
ing the ranks of the army, together with a bill or act upon 
that subject. 

4th. A bill before congress providing for the classing and 
drafting the militia. 

5th. The expenditure of the revenue of the nation in offen- 
sive operations on the neighbouring provinces of the enemy, 

6th. The failure of the government of the United States to 
provide for the common defence, and the consequent obliga- 
tions, necessity, and burden, devolved on the separate states 
to defend themselves, together with the mode, ways^ and 
means, in their power for accomplishing the object. 



iS14. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 463 

The convention continued their daily deliberation upon 
these subjects with closed doors, from the 15th of December 
to the 5th of the following January :* the sentiments of par- 
ticular members on the various subjects of their deliberation 
have not been preserved or published ; and are to be learned 
only from their report and recommendations published at the 
close of the session, and the journal of their daily proceedings 
lodged in the office of the secretary of the state of Massachu- 
Setts, and since published. On the great leading point pro- 
posed by the Massachusetts resolutions, " withholding the 
public revenue, and appropriating it to their own defence,^'' the 
convention decided that it could not be done without the con- 
sent of congress ; they therefore recommended that an earnest 
application should be made for that purpose. No doubt such 
an application might be made without violating any principle 
of the constitution 5 but the wisdom of the measure and the 
probability of its success, presented very different questions. 
it would ill become the congress of the United States, special- 
ly intrusted with the defence of the country, and vested with 
all its resources for that purpose, to say to a particular sec- 
tion, take your own resources and defend yourselves ; this 
would be an invitation to the enemy to bend all its efforts to 
subdue the section thus abandoned, and to the section itself to 
make its submission u}X)n the best terms in its power. This 
recommendation however, was adopted by two of the states, 
and an embassy sent to congress to make the proposition, 
with instructions also to apply to have the expenses already 
incurred by them in calling out the militia, when not under 
the orders of the general government adjusted and allowed. 
The news of peace arriving at Washington at the same 
time with the embassy, superseded the application on the first 
head ; and on the second, it has ever been unsuccessful. The 
measure, however, answered the purpose for which it was 



'=' Journal of the Hartford Convention. 



454 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CaAi-. 2i>. 

originally designed, that of allaying the existing feiinent by 
exciting future expectations. 

It appeared to the convention, obviously inexpedient to 
take any measures for calling a general convention of ail the 
states for the purpose of radically altering or changing the 
form of government ; thai the public expectation, howevei', 
might not be entirely disappointed on this head, the conven- 
tion recommended certain specific amendments of minor con- 
sideration to be obtained in the mode pointed out by the con- 
stitution. 

IsU That representatives and direct taxes be apportioiled 
according to the respective numbers of free persons not in- 
cluding slaves or Indians. 

2d. N » new state be admitted without the consent of twc^ 
thirds of both houses^ 

3d. Congi-ess shall not have polver to lay an embargo for 
a longer term than sixty days. 

4th. Congress shall not have power without tbe concurrence 
of tAVO-thirds of both houses to interdict the commercial inter- 
course between the United States, and any foreign power or 
its dependencies. 

5th. Congres s sliall not have power to declare war, or au- 
thorize acts of hostility against any foreign nation, without the 
concurrence of two thirds of both houses, except such acts of 
hostility be in defence of the territories df the United States 
when actually invaded. 

6th. No person who shall hereafter be naturalized, shall 
be eligible as a member of the senate, or house of represen- 
tatives, or capable of holding any office under the United 
States^ 

7th. The same person shall not be eligible to the office of 
President of the United States a second time ; nor shall the 
President be elected from the same state two terms in suc- 
cessioni 

The operation of these amendments would have been to 
place in the hands of the senators of seven of the minor 



m4. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 4^ 

States, whose population docs not exceed a sixth part of the 
union, a controlling power over most of t,he important acts q§ 
ihe government. Before these amendments could be re- 
ceived as a part of the constitution, they must be adopted by 
the legislatures of three-fourths oi all the states* It could 
not be seriously expeoted that these states should surrender 
the right of self-government to gO' small a portion of their 
population. The propositions however, served the purpose 
of occupying the public attention fpr the time. Two of the 
states adopted and transmitted them to all the others for con- 
sideration,, where they were uniformly rejected, accompanied 
in some instances with severe animadversions on Xhe body 
from which they emanated. The repqrt of the convention, 
containing the result of their deliberations was immediately 
published, and transmitted to the exe^cutlves of the states ap- 
pointing them. It contained sitrictures of peculiar severity 
on many of the measures af the general government, by them 
deemed impolitic and unconstitutional. It recommends that 
the evils to which the New-England states arc subject by 
these measures, should be longer borne rather than to seek 
relief by any violent or unconstitutional .means» 

It recommends to the legislatures of tlie states represented 
ui the convention, to adopt all such measures as may be 
necessary to protect their citizens from, the operation anci 
nffect of ^11 acts which have been or may be passed by 
congress, which shall contain provisions subjecting-their mili- 
tia or other citizens to forceable drafts, conscriptions, or im- 
pressments,^ not authorieed by the constitution, of ,the United 
States.. That a legislative body may transcend its authority, 
and pass acts not, authorized by t^e instrument by which it i? 
created, the acts of every legislature of limited powers, 
evince. Some acts of congress have been declared uncon- 
stitutional by the supreme judicial authority of the nation. It 
is, however, assuming a high and unwarrantable prerogative 
for a state legislature of subordinate authority, to declare the 
^cts of the supreme legislative power, voict; and absolve ih*; 



456 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR.. Chap. 2ul 

citizens frotn their obligations of obedience. For the state 
legislatures to take measures to protect their citizens against 
such acts of congress as they deem unconstitutional, is sub- 
versive of the principles upon which the union is founded. 
A power in one legislature to enact, and in another to declare 
void the same acts, cannot co-exist. One state only follow* 
cd this recommendation of the convention, and happily their 
act upon the subject was never attempted to be executed. 

The report further recommends, that the legislatures pass 
laws authorizing the commanders in chief of the militia, to 
make detachments of the same, or from volunteer corps, and 
cause them to be well armed, equipped, disciplined, and held 
in readiness for service, and upon request of the governors of 
either of the other states, to employ the whole, or such de- 
tachment or corps, as well as the regular force af such state 
or such part thereof as may be spared consistently with their 
own safety, to assist the state making such request to repel 
any invasion thereof by the public enemy. 

The convention iurther resolved, that if the appli- 
cation of these states to the general government should be 
unsuccessful, and peace should not be concluded, and tlie 
defence of these states should be neglected as it had been 
since the commencement of the war ; it would be expedient 
for the legislatures to appoint delegates to meet at Boston on 
the third Thursday of the following June, with such powers 
and instructions as the exigencies of a crisis so momentous 
might require, and that the first named delegates in each 
state, or either two of them might call a meeting of this con? 
vention to be holden at Boston at any time before new dele- 
gates were chosen, if in their judgment, the situation of the 
country should urgently require it. Having in this manner 
executed their commission, the convention closed their ses- 
sion on the 5th of January, 1815.* 

' Report of the convention, January J8I5- 



iai4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 457 

What a second convention might have done, had the war 
with all its embarrassments and calamities continued, is a 
fruitless inquiry. It was a subject of congratulation > all, 
that the treaty of peace, concluded before and ratified soon 
after the rising of the convention, put an end to all question 
on the suljject. It operated, however, as a political ostracism 
upon the unfortunate members ; while those under whose ap- 
pointment they acted, and whose expectations Avere scarcely 
realized, escaped the odium- 






CHAPTER XXI. 

Third Session of the ISth Congress. — Messag-e. — Pioposition to remove 
the Seat of Government ; neg'atived. — Mr. Dallas appointed to the 
Treasury Department. — His Expose. — His Propositions for the Im- 
provement of the Finances. — His Scheme for a National Bank. — The 
Bill for the establishment of a Bank passed both Houses. — Disap- 
proved by the President. — Returned and negatived. — State of the 
Circulating Medium, and of Public and Private Credit. — Duties of the 
Secretary at War assigned to Mr. Monroe. — His Expose of the State 
of the Army, and the Recruiting Service. — His Plan for raising an 
Army for the year 1815. — Mr. Giles's Bill adopted. — Report of the 
Secretary of the Navy. 

Meeting of Congress. The period lixed by a law of the 
last session for the next meeting of the 13«h congress, was 
the last Monday in October, 1814. But the general pacifi- 
cation in Europe, and the destination of the British land and 
naval forces which had been engaged in the European con- 
test to the American war, rendered an earlier meeting neces- 
sary. Soon after the intelligence of these events arrived, 
the President issued a proclamation convening congress on 
the 19th of September. 

Message. His message of the 20th informed them that no 
intelligence had as yet been received from the envoys at 
Ghent : that from the principles and manner in which the 
war is now avowedly carried on, they had every reason to 
infer that a spirit of hostility more violent than ever is in- 
dulged against the rights and prosperity of the country. This 
increased violence, the President observes, is best explained 
by the two important circumstances, that the great contest 
in Europe, for an equilibrium guarantying to all the states 
their rights against the ambition of any, has been closed with- 
«ut any check on the overbearing power of Great Britain on 



^ 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 459 

the ocean ; and that it has left on her hands disposable arma- 
ments, with which, forgetting the difficulties of a remote war 
against a free people, and yielding to the intoxication of suc- 
cess, with a great victim before her eyes, she cherishes hopes 
of still further aggrandizement. But' whatever may have 
inspired the enemy with these more violent purposes, the 
public councils of this nation, more able to maintain than to 
acquire its independence, can never deliberate but upon the 
means most effectual for defeating the extravagant views of 
the enemy. The various successes of the American arms in 
the campaign of 1814 are brought into view as motives for 
increased and more vigorous exertions. From the view of 
the national affairs which the present crisis presents, congress 
will be urged, the President remarks, without delay, to 
take up the subject of pecuniary supplies, and the mihtary 
force, on a scale commensurate with the extent and character 
which the war has now assumed. The situation of the coun- 
try calls for its greatest efforts. The enemy, powerful in men 
and money, on the land and water, is aiming, with an undivided 
force, a deadly blow at the growing prosperity of the coun- 
try. He has openly avowed his purpose of trampling on the 
usages of civilized war, and given earnests of it in the plun- 
der and wanton destruction of private property. From such 
an adversary, hostility, in its greatest force and in its worst 
forms, is to be expected. The American people must face it 
with the same undaunted spirit, which in the revolutionary 
struggle defeated his unrighteous projects. The message 
concludes with a strong appeal to the patriotism of the Ameri- 
can people, end a reliance on the support of an omnipotent 
and kind Providence.* 

Immediately after the destruction of the capitol, the Presi- 
dent directed another building lobe provided and fitted up 
for the accommodation of congress. Though every exertion 
was made for that purpose, yet the short time in which it was 



* Message of the 20th g/Sept. 1814. 



4bO HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK, CuAr 2i 

necessarily done, prevented such arrangements being made 
as were desirable. 'JMie city of Philadclj)hia, and boi-ough 
«f>f Lancaster, each ofl'cred to providt^ sunicient accommoda- 
tions, should congress deem it proper to remove. Soon after 
the meeting of congress, a resolution was introduced and 
passed by the casting vote of the speaker, declaring it ex- 
pedient to remove the seat of government from the city of 
Washington. But on the linal question on the passage of a 
bill to that effect, it was negatived : ayes 74 ; nays 83. 

Finance. The attention of congress was lirst directed to 
the finanical concerns of the nation. 

Circulating Medium. At this period nine-tenths of the 
circulating medium in the United States was bank paper, 
issued by institutions incorporated for banking purposes un- 
der the authority of the several states. These institutions 
to the amount of nearly a hundred, had grown up with the 
increase of commerce in the United Stales since the revolu- 
tion. Their issues of paper were always supposed to be 
bottomed upon a specie capital, paid in, and deposited in the 
vaults of the bank, where the bill-holder might always resort, 
and convert his bill into specie; and this was the case with 
the exception of a few banks, the management of whose con- 
cerns had fallen into the hands of swindlers, until the com- 
mencement of the year 1814. The specie by which the banks 
were supplied, was obtained principally from the exportation 
of American productions. This source was almost entirely 
cut off by the war. Indeed very little specie found its way 
into the United States except what was obtained by an illicit 
commerce with the enemy. The specie in the country at the 
commencement of the war was withdrawn from the banks by 
the bill-holders, and cither exported or hoarded in private 
coffers. In this situation the.se institutions were reduced to 
the alternative of suspending specie payments, or of collect- 
ing in their debts from theii- customers, and suspending their 
ordinary operations of discounting. The banks south and 
west of New-England generally adopted the former, and the 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 4G1 

New-England banks the latter alternative. The consequence- 
was, the bills of the specie banks disappeared ; the other 
banks continued and enlarged their business, made more 
liberal discounts, and supplied nearly the whole circulating 
medium, which now became a depreciated paper. This struck 
at once at the foundation of public and private credit. The 
wary capitalist preferred having his funds lie unproductive to 
the hazard of exchanging them for any paper. A general 
distrust and want of confidence in each other prevailed 
among all classes. The public credit of the government 
suffered equally with that of individuals; its depression was 
such as to threaten a suspension of important military opera- 
tions. 

Loan of twenty-Jive millions. In executing the authority 
given by the act of March 1814, to borrow twenty-five mil- 
lions of dollars, a loan of ten millions, part of that sum, was 
opened on the 2d of May. No money could be obtained on 
this loan short of a discount of twelve per cent., and with a 
further stipulation, that if a greater discount should b6 made 
upon the residue of the loan, the subscribers to the ten mil- 
lions should be placed uy^n the same ground. Of this sum. 
only six millions reached the treasury by the first of July, and 
the subscribers to the amount of two millions finally failed of 
paying. On the 22d of August, another loan was opened 
for six millions, but the whole amount oflTcred at any rale was 
less than three, and this at a discount of twenty per cent. 
Notwithstanding this reduced rate, the secretary of the treasu- 
ry states, that considering the market price of United States 
stock, hardly exceeded eighty per cent., and as there was no 
prospect of obtaining money upon better terms, and money 
at some rate was indispensable to the public service, it was 
deemed adviseable to accept the sum offered at this rate. 
Another three millions of this stock was created, and sent to 
market in Kurope. At the same time there were in circulation 
eight millions oftreastn-y notes, one half of which was reim- 
bursible during the year 1814, and being receivable on all 



462 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21. 

taxes, and debts due the United States, would intercept and in 
effect diminish the revenue to that amount. In this situation 
Mr. Campbell left the treasury in October 1814. 

This department suffered much by frequent changes of its 
principal officer, during a period when uniformity and effi- 
ciency of operations were most essential. In April 1813, 
Mr. Gallatin was taken from the head of the treasury depart- 
ment, and sent on the peace embassy. This officer was a 
financier of distinguished talents ; had the benefit of twelve 
years experience at the head of the treasury ; and had di- 
gested a plan, and commenced the operation of a system of 
finance adapted to a state of war ; when he was unexpectedly 
removed from the discharge of the official duties of the de- 
partment, still retaining the office, appointed a commissioner 
under the Russian mediation, and immediately despatched to 
Petersburgh for the purpose of meeting British negotiators, 
whom that government never saw fit to appoint. This mea- 
sure was adopted during the recess of the senate, and when 
submitted to them for approbation, the officer was on his way 
to Europe in the execution of his commission. The senate 
strongly remonstrated against, but finally confirmed the ap- 
pointment. The business of the department for the remainder 
of that year, was confided to Mr. Jones, the secretary of the 
navy. Early in 1814, Mr. Campbell was appointed, and 
took charge of the department until the October following, 
when Mr. Dallas was appointed his successor. 

Mr. Dallas'^ s Expose. On the 17th of October, Mr. Dallas, 
in answer to inquiries from the committee of ways and means, 
gave an expose of the state of the treasury at the commence- 
ment of his official duties. Contemplating the present state 
of the finances, he observes, a deficiency of the revenue, and 
a depreciation of public credit exist from causes which cannot 
be ascribed to the want of resources, or want of integrity 
in the nation. The most operative causes have been the in- 
adequacy of the system of taxation to form the basis of pub- 
lic credit, and the abuse of the means best adapted to antici- 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 463 

pate, collect, and distribute the public revenue. The wealth 
of the nation has remained almost wholly untouched by the 
hand of government." The national faith, and not the national 
wealth, has hitherto been the principal instrument of finance. 
It was to be expected, however, that a period must arrive in 
the course of a protracted war, when confidence in the accu- 
mulating pubhc engagements could only be secured by an 
active demonstration of the capacity and disposition to per- 
form them. A prompt and resolute application of the re- 
sources of the country will effectually relieve from every pe- 
cuniary embarrassment, and vindicate the fiscal honour of the 
government. 

The public exigencies require a supply of treasure for the 
prosecution of the war, far beyond any amount which it is 
either politic or practicable to obtain by an immediate and 
constant imposition of taxes. Resort must therefore be had 
to credit. Public credit is at this juncture so depressed, that 
no hope of adequate succour, on moderate terms, can be 
placed upon it. Hence it becomes the first and last object 
in every practical scheme of finance to reanimate the con- 
fidence of the citizens, and to impress on the mind of every 
person, who renders services, furnishes supplies, or advances 
money on public account, a perfect conviction of the punctu- 
ality as well as the security of government. We have now 
not merely the care of preserving a credit which has never 
been impaired, but the more difficult task of rescuing from 
reproach, a credit over which doubt and apprehension have 
cast an inauspicious shade. No exertion will be found com- 
petent to attain this object which does not quiet in every mind 
all fear of future loss and disappointment in consequence of 
trusting to the pledges of public faith. 

The circulating medium of the country, the secretary adds, 
is another copious source of mischief and embarrassment. 
The recent exportations of specie has considerably dimin- 
ished the fund of gold and silver coin; and another portion 



4134 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CHAr.ill. 

of it has been withdrawn by the timid, and wary from the use 
of the community, into the coffers of individuals. The multi- 
plication of banks has so increased the quantity of paper cur- 
rency, that it is difficult to calculate its amount or ascertain 
its value, with reference to the capital on which it has been 
issued. It may therefore be affirmed that there exists at this 
time no adequate circulating medium common to the citizens 
of thcjUnited States. The moneyed transactions of private 
life are at a stand, and the fiscal operations of government 
labour with extreme inconvenience. It is impossible that 
such a state of things can long be endured, and with legisla- 
tive aid, it is not necessary. Under favourable circum- 
stgtnces, and to a limited extent, an emission of treasury notes 
would probably affiard relief, but they are an expensive and 
precarious substitute for coin or bank notes, charged as they 
are with a growing interest, productive of no countervailing 
profit, and exposed to every breath of popular prejudice and 
alarm. 

The establishment of a national institution operating upon 
credit, combined with capital, and regulated by prudence anrl 
good faith, is, after all, the only efficient remedy for the dis- 
ordered state of the circulating medium. It will be a saf<: 
depository for the public treasure, and a constant auxiliary 
f.o public credit. But whether the issues of a paper cur- 
rency proceed from the national treasrii-y or a national bank, 
the acceptance of the paper in a course of payments must bo 
for ever optional with the citizens. The extremity of that 
day cannot be anticipated, when any enlightened statesman 
shall again venture upon the desperate expedient of a tender 
law. Having thus generally dehneated the fiscal concern^ 
of the nation, the secretary next proceeds to oft'er the follow- 
ing specific propositions, which in his opinion would place 
public credit upon a permanent basis, and furnish an eligible 
'irculatinff medium. 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 465 

1st. That during the war, and until the claims contem- 
plated in these propositions are extinguished there should be 
annually raised by taxes, duties, imposts, and excises, a fund, 
For the support of government of . . . . ^1,500,000 
For the princij^al and interest of the public 

debt due defore the war 3,500,000 

Interest on the war debt estimated at seventy- 
two millions 4,320,000 

For the payment of treasury notes .... 7,400,000 
For the payment of any liquidated ba- 
lances where there are no specific appropria- 
tions 280,000 

For the current expenses of the war in part . 2,000,000 

For a sinking fund - . 500,000 

For a contingent fund to meet sudden and 
occasional demands on the treasury .... 1 ,500,000 



^21,000,000 
2d. That this sum be raised by the customs 

estimated at ^4,000,000 

Existing internal duties 2,700,000 

Direct tax 2,500,000 

Sales of public lands . ....... 800,000 

By an addition of one hundred per cent, upon 
the direct tax, sales at auction, rates of postage, 

and duties on carriages 3,700,000 

By an addition of fifty percent, on retailing 

licenses 300,000 

By the proceeds of new duties, viz. by a tax 
on domestic distilled spirits of twenty-five cents 
per gallon in addition to the duty on stills . . 6,000,000 
On other manufactures not hitherto taxed . 1^000,000 



^21,000,000 
3d. That a national bank be established at Philadelphia, 
with power to establish branches at pleasure, and with a cap- 
ital of fifty millions of dollars ; thirty to be subscribed by indi- 

.59 



466 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21. 

viduals, and twenty by the United States- The specie capi- 
tal to be six millions paid by individuals, the residue to be 
paid in treasury notes and United States stock : that the 
United States should have power to take up treasury notes 
paid in by individuals, and substitute six per cent, stock. 
That no part of the public stock should be sold by the bank 
during the war, nor more than half of it afterwards without 
the consent of congress. And that the bank should be 
obliged to loan to the United States thirty millions at an inter- 
est of six per cent. 

4th. That twenty-eight millions be borrowed for the war 
expenditures of 1815, and afterwards such sums annually as 
should be necessary to meet the war appropriations.* 

This financial expose of the secretary of the treasury was 
received with great anxiety. It presented to the view of con- 
gress and the people, the real situation of the national trea- 
sury, the state of public credit, and the circulating medium. 
No effectual provision was made at the commencement of the 
war for meeting its expenses, other than acts of congress au- 
thorizing the borrowing of money, and issuing treasury notes : 
and no receipts at the treasury were had on account of the 
war taxes until more than a year after they were imposed. 
During this time the war debt had accumulated to an 
amount which threatened the destruction of public credit. 
Mr. Dallas's measures went in a great degree to correct the 
evil. The system of taxes and internal duties which he re- 
commended were, with some unimportant variations, adopted, 

.National Bank. On the subject of his project for a na- 
tional bank, there was a great diversity of sentiment. Whe- 
ther it was within the constitutional powers of congress to cre- 
ate such an institution, was a question which had long divided 
public opinion. It was not given by any express clause in the 
constitution, and by a subsequent amendment it was provided. 
*' that the powers not delegated to the United States by the con- 

iiii ■ I -— - — ■ '" ■ 

* Mr Ds^las'8 expose, October 1814. 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 467 

stitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the 
states, respectively, or to the people." One clause in the con- 
stitution gave congress the power to make all laws necessary and 
proper for carrying into effect the powers delegated to them. 
This general indefinite power, the extent of which is always 
to be judged of in the first instance by the body who is to ex- 
ercise it, has ever been construed to extend to any measure 
which it is found convenient to adopt. With this disposition 
£0 a liberal construction of their own powers, the first con- 
gress under the constitution established a national bank as 
a measure necessary and proper to carry into effect the 
financial powers expressly delegated by the constitution. 
The measure, however, was severely reprobated by a re- 
spectable portion of the legislature as unconstitutional ; and 
when the charter expired it was refused to be renewed. In 
the extended financial operations incident to a state of war, 
and in the absence of a specie circulating medium, the want 
of such an institution was greatly felt, and constitutional scru- 
ples disappeared. But to the project of the secretary, there 
were peculiar objections. This bank was to consist of a spe- 
cie capital of six millions only; the other forty forty- four 
were to consist of debt against the United States, which the 
bank could not alienate, or in any manner convert into acr 
me capital, and of course could afford no aid in banking op- 
erations. With these limited means, the bank was required 
to loan, at the call of government, thirty millions, or five times 
its active capital, and to furnish a circulating medium for the 
nation : its discounts of course must be liberal : it must throw 
out an immense quantity of bills into circulation ; to restrain 
which there was no limitation. The consequence must be a 
want of means to redeem its bills in specie ; and another in= 
evitable consequence, a depreciation of the currency. It 
might afford a convenient mode of disposing of forty-four 
miUions of the public debt, but the sacrifice was deemed too 
great. It was nothing more than a paper money scheme in 
the hands of individuals who might pervert it to the most per-= 



468 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21* 

nicious purposes. The committee of ways and means, how- 
^^ver, reported a bill to the house, establishing a bank upon 
the secretary's principles. After undergoing a discussion of 
several weeks, the features of the bill were entirely changed. 
It was altered from a paper to a specie bank. It was holden 
to redeem its bills with specie ; and for this purpose, the 
treasury notes, and one-half the United States stock paid in 
by subscribers, might be sold in market at the pleasure of the 
bank ; and the institution was to be under no obligation to 
loan money to the governnifiit. The capital was to consist 
of thirty millions, one-sixth part specie, and the other United 
States stock and treasury notes. A bill incorporating a bank 
upon these principles finally passed both houses, and was 
presented to the President for approbation. The executive, 
preferring the system of the secretary, disapproved the bill, 
and returned it with his objections, stating that waiving the 
constitutional question which he considered as being at rest 
by the various acts of the legislative, executive, and judicial 
branches of the government, the bank in his opinion was 
calculated to afford no efficient aid to the government. The 
amount of public stock, which would be absorbed by the 
bank, and which they would be obliged to retain, would have 
no sensible effect to raise the public credit ; while by throw- 
ing into market such parts of it as they were authorized to 
sell, they might contribute to its further depression. Not be- 
ing obliged to loan money to government, no reasonable ex- 
pectation of benefit was to be expected from that source, and 
being obliged to redeem their bills by specie payments, they 
would be so confined in their operations as not to afford a cir- 
culating medium. That the six millions of specie paid in by 
the subscribers would probably soon be drawn out for expor- 
tation which would further increase the embarrassments 
arising from the want of a specie circulating medium. That 
a bank, with the exclusive privileges conferred on this, ought 
to purchase their charter either directly by an adequate 
>>onus, or indirectly by being obliged to make loans to gov- 



1)114. mSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 469 

ernment to a certain amount when required ; neither of which 
was provided for in the act. The bill, being returned to'^the 
senate with the President's objections, failed of being support- 
ed by a majority of two-thirds, and was negatived. 

Treasury Estimates. On the 27th of January, the secre- 
tary presented another report, stating that the charges on the 
treasury for the year 1814, consisting of unsatisfied appropri- 
ations of the preceding year, tne sums necessary to meet the 
engagement of the public debt, and the appropriations for the 
year 1814, amounted to $57,694,590.70. That the ways 
and means provided to meet these demands were, 

Cash in the treasury on the 1st of January, 
1814, ^5,196,482 

Amount of cash received for revenue, of ev- 
ery description, in 1814, 11,311,353 

Proceeds of loans and treasury notes in 1813, 
and received in 1814, 4,662,665 

Authority to borrow and issue treasury notes 
for the service of the year 1814, 36,000,000 



$57,170,500 
On this statement the secretary remarks, the calls on the 
treasury are positive and urgent; the ways and means de- 
pending principally on the loans as yet unobtained, are pre- 
carious, and not to be relied on. 

The estimates for the year 1815, he states to be. 
For the civil, diplomatic, and miscellaneous 

expenses, $1,979,289 

Military department, 30,342,238 

Naval department, 8,217,862 

Public debt necessary to be provided for in 
1815, 15,493,145 



$ 56,032,034 

The ways and means for 1815 are the existing sources of 

supply embracing cash in the treasury, direct tax, customs, 

internal duties, and all incidental receipts, and amount to 



470 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ChAp. 21- 

15,125,909, leaving a deficit of more than forty millions, to 
be provided for by additional internal taxes, loans, and issues 
of treasury notes. This deficit of forty millions for the ser- 
vice of the year 1815, together with the unobtained loans for 
1814, both amounting to seventy-six millions, presented a 
most unpromising aspect. After making his statement in 
detail, the secretary concludes the communication by remark- 
ing, that when he perceives that more than forty millions are 
to be raised for the service of the year 1815, by an appeal to 
public credit through the medium of loans and treasury notes, 
he feels the utmost solicitude for the event. The unprom- 
ising state of public credit, and the obstructed state of the 
circulating medium, are sufficiently known. A liberal impo- 
sition of taxes during the present session, ought to raise the 
public credit, were it not for countervailing causes ; but it can 
have no efiect in furnishing a national circulating medium. 
It remains therefore with the wisdom of Congress to decide 
whether any other means can be applied to restore public 
credit, re-estabhsh a national circulating medium, and facili- 
tate the anticipations of the public revenue. The opinion ol 
this department has been heretofore frankly expressed, and it 
remains unchanged. 

Military Expose. — A view of the military establishment in 
prospect for the year 1815, was as unpromising as that of the 
treasury. The duties of the department of war had in the 
month of September been assigned to the secretary of state ; 
and on the 17th of October, Mr. Monroe as acting secretary 
at war, in answer to a letter from the chairman of the military 
committee, gave a detailed exposition of the state of the mili- 
tary department, of the force necessary for the service of the 
year 1815, and of the means of obtaining it. He states that an 
effective force of one hundred thousand men will be necssa. 
ry for the service of the year 1815. He recommends that the 
present military establishment of 62,448 men, be preserved and 
filled up, and an additional permanent force of forty thousand, 
he raised for the defence of the sea-board and frontiers. In 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 471 

proposing these measures, the secretary adds, " it is now ap- 
parent that the object of the British government, by striking 
at the principal sources of prosperity, is to diminish the im- 
portance, if not destroy the political existence of the United 
States. Forced now to contend for our liberties and inde- 
pendence, we are called upon to display all the patriotism 
which distinguished Americans in the first great struggle. 
The United States must relinquish no right, or perish in the 
attempt. There was no middle ground to rest on. The 
stronger the pressure, and the greater the danger, the more 
firm and vigorous will be the resistance, and the more suc- 
cessful the result. It is the avowed purpose of the enemy to 
lay waste and destroy our cities and villages, and desolate the 
country, of which numerous examples had already been af- 
forded. It is evidently his intention to press the war along 
the whole extent of the sea-board, and from Canada to invade 
the adjoining states; while at the same time, attempts are 
made on the city of New- York and other important points, in 
the vain project of dismemberment or subjugation. A part 
of his scheme evidently appears to be to continue the inva- 
sion of this part of the union, while a separate force attacks 
the state of Louisiana in the hope of taking possession of 
New-Orleans, and the mouth of the Mississippi, the great out- 
let and key to the commerce of all that portion of the United 
States west of the Alleghany mountains. The advantage 
which a great naval superiority gives the enemy by enabling 
him to move his troops with celerity, from one quarter to 
another, from Maine to Mississippi, along a coast of two thou- 
sand miles, is very great. A small force moved in this man- 
ner, for the purposes avowed by the British commander, 
creates an alarm in every part. If the militia are to be relied 
on as the principal defence of the coast against these preda- 
tory and desolating incursions, by interfering with their or- 
dinary pursuits of industry, it will be attended with serious in- 
terruption and loss to them, and injury to the public. It is 
an object "therefore of the highest importance to provide a. 



472 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap, if i- 

regular force with the means of transporting it from one quar- 
ter to another, thereby following the movements of the ene- 
my with the greatest possible rapidity in repelling his attacks, 
wherever they may be made. Three times the force in mi- 
litia has been employed, the secretary stated, at our princi- 
pal cities on the coast and on the frontier, and in marching to 
and returning from thence, that would have been necessary in 
regular troops, and the expense has been more than propor 
tionably augmented. But to bring the war to an honourable 
termination, we must not be contented with merely defending 
ourselves. Different feelings must be touched, and different 
apprehensions excited in the British government. By push- 
ing the war into Canada, the friendship of the Indian tribes is 
secured, and their services commanded, which would be oth- 
erwise turned against us. The coast is relieved from the 
desolation threatened, and we have in our hands a safe pledge 
of an honourable peace. From this view of the subject, it 
will be necessary to bring into the field a regular army of one 
hundred thousand effective men for the next campaign. Such 
a force, aided in extraordinary emergencies by volunteers, 
and mihtia, will remove all inquietude, as to the final result 
of the contest, and secure to the United States a safe and 
honourable ]ieace." 

But the great question remains, how is this force to be ob- 
tained ? For the recruiting service of the last year a bounty 
has been ofl'ered of one hundred and twenty-four dollars, and 
one hundred and sixty acres of land to each recruit, ninety- 
six dollars a year wages, and clothing during the time ol 
service. Recruiting rendezvous had been opened at sixty 
different places in the United States, and to ensure the ac- 
tivity of recruiting officers, they were allowed four dollars for 
tach man obtained. Two millions of dollars had been paid 
out in bounties and premiums in the recruiting service, from 
January to September, 1814, and during that time, and with 
ihese exertions, only thirteen thousand eight hundred and 
ninety-eight men had been obtained ; and not more than one 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 473 

half of that number had reached the army in season for active 
service in the campaign of 1814. The army, which on pa- 
per stood at 62,448 men, did not at the close of the campaign 
exceed half that number of effectives. The recruiting ser- 
vice for the ensuing year was still more unpromising. The 
campaign of 1814 had been severe, fatiguing, and hazardous ; 
that of 1815 wore a still more threatening aspect. The sol- 
dier had now to expect to meet the veteran troops of Great 
Britain, inured to twenty years' service in the open field. 
Nearly all those who could be supposed willing, either from 
motives of patriotism or interest, to pledge their lives to gov- 
ernment had already been enlisted ; and it would be per- 
fectly vain and illusory to attempt the raising of seventy 
thousand men, the number wanted according to the secre- 
tary's estimate, by voluntary enlistment. 

Plan of the Secretary at War for filling the Ranks of the 
Army. With these views, the secretary, who was not a man 
to propose an object without adequate means to accomplish 
it, was induced to abandon the system of voluntary enlist- 
ment, and propose one of compulsory service. His report 
embraced four plans; but the first and the one which he 
strongly recommended, was by far the most simple, energetic, 
and effectual. He proposed that the free male population of 
the United States, between the ages of eighteen and forty- 
five, and which according to the census of eighteen hundred 
and ten, amounted to between nine and ten hundred thousand, 
should be formed into classes of one hundred men each, by 
local precincts, with a view to the equal distribution of prop- 
erly among the several classes ; and that each class furnish 
their proportion of men required within thirty days after the 
classification, and replace them in case of casualty : all the 
taxable property within the precinct of each class to be taxed 
to pay an extra bounty to the recruits. The men want- 
ed were to be designated by draft, if volunteers did not offer. 
Estimating the whole number of citizens of the requisite age 
at a million, and the number wanted at seventy thousand,, 

60 



4:(.| IIPSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2i. 

would -give seven men to each class. The recruits to be 
delivered over to the recruiting officer of the district, and 
marched to such place of general rendezvous as should be 
designated by the secretary at war. Particular persons in 
each county to be appointed by the President to carry this 
system into execution. 

The secretary, aware that this was bringing the war home 
to the feelings of congress and their constituents, and that 
there probably might be strong objections to the plan, assigns 
iiis reasons for the measure. That it will be efTectual, can- 
not, he obsei'ves, be doubted j the men contemplated wilS 
soon be raised, and there can be no well grounded constitu- 
tional objections. Congress have a right to declare war and 
to raise resjular armies without restriction. It is intended 
that this plan should operate on all alike ; none are exempt- 
ed but the chief magistrate of the United States, and the gov- 
ernors of the several stales. It would be absurd to suppose 
that congress could not carry this power into effect, otherwise 
than by accepting the voluntary services of individuals. I: 
might happen that an army could not be raised in that mode ; 
the power then would have been granted in vain. The 
safety of the stale might depend upon such an army, and be 
jeopardized by delay. Long continued invasions, conducted 
by regular and well diciplined troops, can best be repelled 
by troops of the same character. Courage is in a great de- 
gree mechanical. A small body, well trained, accustomed to 
action, and gallantly, led on, often breaks down three or four 
times the number of more respectable and brave, but raw 
and undiciplined troops. The sense of danger is diminished 
by frequent exposure without harm; and confidence inspired 
by a knowledge that reliance may be placed on others : this 
knowledge is obtained in no other way but by actual service 
together. The power granted to congress to raise armies, 
was made with a knowledge of all these circumstances. The 
frainers of the constitution, and the states who ratified it. knew 



1314. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 475 

the advantage which an enemy might have by regular forces, 
and intended to place their country on an equal footing. 

The id€a that Congress cannot raise an army in any other 
mode than by accepting the voluntary services of individuals, 
the secretary observes, is repugnant to the uniform construc- 
tion of all grants of power, and to the first principles and 
leading objects of the constitution. An unqualified grant of 
power gives the necessary means of carrying it into effect. 
This is a universallaw of construction that admits of no ex- 
ception. The conservation of the state is a duty paramount 
to all others. The commonwealth has a right to the ser- 
vices of all its 'citizens ; or rather the citizens composing the 
commonwealth have a right to the services of each other to 
repel any danger which may be threatened. In what man- 
ner this service is to be apportioned among the citizens is the 
object of legislation. All that is to be dreaded in such cases 
is the abuse of power, and the constitution has provided am- 
ple security against that evil. In support of the position that 
congress have a right to compel the military services of indi- 
viduals, the militia laws are a conclusive proof and a striking 
example. That whole system is founded on compulsion ; 
the militia man is enrolled at the age of eighteen, disciplined, 
called into active service, and subject to martial law, without 
his consent. The militia service calls from home, for long 
terms, whole districts of country ; none can elude the call ; few- 
can avoid the service ; and those who do are compelled to pay 
great sums for substitutes. The plan proposed fixes upon no 
one personally, and opens to all a chance of declining the ser- 
vice. It is the principal object of this plan to engage in defence 
of the state, the unmarried andyouthful,who can best be spared, 
and to secure to them an adequate compensation, from the vol- 
untary contributions of the more wealthy of every class. Great 
confidence is entertained that such contribution will be made 
in time to avoid a draft. The secretary finally adduced in 
support of his plan, the example of the revolutionary war. 



47G HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR- Chap. Sl- 

it then filled the ranks of the regular army, and led to a suc- 
cessful termination of the contest. Should the United States 
make this exertion, the war would probably soon end. It is 
in their power to expel the British from the American conti- 
nent. Against the united and vigorous efforts of America, the 
resistance of the enemy must be feeble. Success in defeating 
the schemes of the enemy, and obtaining an honourable peace, 
will place the United States on higher ground in the opinion 
of the world, than they have ever held at any former period. 
In future European wars, their commerce will be allowed to 
take its lawful range unmolested : respected abroad, and happy 
at home, the United States will have accomplished the great 
objects for which they have so long contended : as a nation 
they will have litUe to dread, as a people little to desire.* 

To fill the ranks of the existing army, the secretary calcu- 
lated, would require four to each class, and about the same 
number to raise the proposed additional corps of forty thousand. 
It was only to constitute every twelfth free male citizen of 
the United States, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, 
a soldier during the war, and all the brilliant objects enume- 
rated in the secretary's report would probably be realized. 
Three other plans were proposed as substitutes for this, but 
all of them being less efficient, and equally objectionable ; the 
secretary relied on this for the further prosecution of the 

var. 

Two objects were proposed by the raising of this army : 
one, the defence of the territory ; the other, the conquest of 
Canada. But his arguments were now addressed to a body 
who had given up the plan of the Canadian conquest, and 
-vsrhose undivided attention was directed to an efficient system 
of defence. 

The secretaries of the treasury and war, both recently aj)- 
pointed to those offices, in their reports to congress, laid open 
withgreat faithfulness and ability the embarrassments under 



* Report of the acting secretary at war. October 1814. 



4S14. HIBTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 477 

which the financial and military affairs of the nation labour- 
ed, and proposed remedies, bold, energetic, and effectual, but 
ijuch as at the commencement of the war were little antici- 
pated. It was not expected that in a contest for the rights 
of some thousands of American seamen, who had been gross- 
ly injured, these seamen would in consequence thereof be'im- 
mured in Dartmoor prison, and one hundred thousand free 
citizens of the United States be compelled to fill the ranks of 
the army. But war once declared, there was no resting 
point ; the blood and treasure of the nation were pledged for 
its support •, and that legislature who are not prepared, if the 
occasion calls, to compel every citizen, capable of bearing 
arms, to take their stand in the ranks of the army, and to take 
so much of the treasure of the nation as is necessary to ac- 
complish the objects of the contest, even to its last cent, must 
not declare war. Such, however, was not the temper of con- 
gress, nor could they be brought to it by the reasonings of the 
secretaries. 

The plan of the secretary at war was not even honoured with 
a discussion in either house of congress. No bill was ever in- 
troduced embracing its principles. The measure was deem- 
ed too strong, and too nearly allied to European conscrip- 
tions and impressments for republican America. 

As a substitute, Mr. Giles, of the military committee, in- 
troduced a bill into the senate, authorizing the President to 
call upon the executives of each state, for their propor- 
tion of eighty thousand militia, to serve for the term of two 
years, within the limits of the United States, and confined 
also to the state in which they were raised, or an adjoining 
state. This corps was to be raised by draft, on failure of 
volunteers offering themselves ; and for this purpose, all per- 
sons subject to military duty were to be classed, with refer- 
ence also to property, in such manner, that one from each 
class could supply the requisite number. Their services, 
being confined within the hmits of the United States, were to 
be merely of a defensive character. This bill, with little va- 



478 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 21. 

riation, passed both houses ; and being a substitute for the reg- 
ular force contemplaled by the secretary at war, manifested 
an unequivocal determination to abandon the project of con- 
quering the Canadas. 

Enlistment of Minors. Another bill was also introduced 
Irom the same committee in aid of the recruiting service, in- 
creasing the land bounty to 320 acres, and providing that 
persons under the age of twenty-one years may be enlisted 
without the consent of their parents, guardians, or masters. 
The last provision was opposed as impolitic, tending to se- 
duce and corrupt the morals of the American youth •, to take 
them from the wise and wholesome restraint of their parents 
and guardians, and expose them to the seduction and licen- 
tiousness of the camp, before they had arrived to years of 
discretion : that it was clothing them with the power of bind- 
ing themselves by their contracts in a most important point, 
when by the laws of all the slates they were deemed incapa- 
ble of making contracts : that it was unconstitutional, as it 
impaired and defeated the existing obligations of a lawful 
contract between the minor apprentice and his master. These 
objections however, were overruled, and the bill with this 
provision passed, on the ground that persons of this age 
ever constituted an important part of the military national 
force : that such persons usually made the best soldiers, 
would more easily learn, and readily submit to the discipline 
of the camp, and that a nation at war, was entided to the 
services of all its citizens capable of bearing arms for its de- 
fence. 

Report of the Secretary of the Navy. The secretary of 
the navy, in his report of the 15th of November, in a mild, 
quahficd, and cautious manner, recommended the impressment 
of American seamen for the supply of the navy. His propo- 
sition was thst some regular system be estabhshed, by which 
the voluntary enlistments for the navy may derive occasional 
reinforcement from the service of those seamen, who, pursu- 
ing their own private occupations, arc exempt from public 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 479 

service of any kind ; and that, for this purpose, descriptive 
registers be kept in each district, of all the seamen belong- 
ing to the United States; and that provision be made by law 
for classing them, and calling into public service, in succession, 
for reasonable stated periods, such portions or classes as the 
public service might require. He also recommended the es- 
tablishment of a board of navy inspectors, to have the gene- 
ral superintendence and direction of the affairs of the navy, 
and authority over all the officers and agents employed in 
that department: that naval stations be designated within 
the United States by convenient boundaries, and an officer 
of rank and confidence should reside in each, who should, 
under the instructions of the navy board, superintend and 
control the officers of the navy within his district. 

In the senate, Mr. Tait, from the committee of naval affairs, 
reported a resolution for the appointment of admirals. In 
congress, the project of the secretary for registering and 
classing the seamen, and calling or impressing them into 
public service, was rejected, more on account of the popular 
odium attached to the idea of impressment or compulsory 
service, than any intrinsic objection to the plan. Experience 
has demonstrated that a navy is the cheapest, and only ade- 
quate mode of defence. Should the United States ever be. 
engaged in another war, it must be of a maritime character. 
Government has done much for its sea-faring citizens : the 
present war is carried on, and nearly a hundred million of 
dollars has been expended, in vindication of their rights. 
Their brethren on land have marched to the Canadian bor- 
der, endured every hardship, and laid down their lives by 
thousands in support of their cause. The government then 
have an unquestionable right to their services when required 
to man its navy. The most desirable mode is voluntary en- 
listment ; but in times of great danger this source may fail, 
and resort must be had to compulsion. Here two plans only 
present themselves; one the English mode of sending out 
press gangs, seizing sailors wherever they can be found, and 



4 

480 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. '2 J. 

dragging them on board the ships of war; the other, the one 
pointed out by the secretary; of the two, no American can 
doubt which is the most eligible. The proposition of the naval 
committee for the appointment of admirals, was also rejected ; 
congress however, in pursuance of the secretary's plan, es- 
tablished a board of commissioners for the naval service, to 
consist of three officers of rank, not under that of post cap- 
tain. This board was attached to the office of the secretary, 
and under his superintendence, to discharge many of the im- 
portant duties assigned to it, relative to the procurement of 
naval stores, and materials for the construction and arma- 
ment of ships of waPj relative to their employment, and to 
all matters connected with the naval establishment of the 
United States. 

At an early period of the session, communications wcrfc 
received, and laid before congress from the American envoys 
at Ghent, which precluded all reasonable expectations of 
peace. They contained what was then declared to be the^ 
British ultimatum, and which was such as none but a con- 
quered country would accept. No alternative therefore 
appeared, but to prosecute the war in future by the compul- 
sory service of the citizens, either in some of the methods 
pointed out by the secretary at war, or in some other manner 
to be devised by the wisdom of congress. 

Peace. While difficulties of the most serious nature in the 
military and fiscal concerns of the nation seemed to be ac- 
cumulating upon the administration; and congress and the 
people were looking forward with great anxiety to the event? 
of the coming year ; the long wished for but unexpected news 
of peace arrived on the 13th of February, and relieved the 
administration and the country from all embarrassment. 

At no period since the darkest time of the revolutionary 
Avar had the affairs of the United States ever assumed so un- 
promising an aspect. Coi)grcss, convened over the smoking 
ruins of the capitol, had before them an actual deficit of 
thirty-jiinc millions, and an estimate for the service of the 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 481 

coming year, of upwards of thirty millions to be supplied only 
by loans, without credit to borrow a dollar on any terms short 
of such as indicated a bankruptcy ; no system of taxation 
adequate to the payment of the interest of the moneys re- 
quired: no circulating medium in which the public had any 
confidence, for the transaction of private business, or the 
collection of the revenue i the union invaded at each ex- 
tremity: eighty thousand men necessary for the objects of 
the war, and none to be obtained but by a conscription or 
compulsory draft of the same character, and embracing as 
great a proportion of citizens, as had ever been adopted in 
France. These circumstances prepared the people and tlip^ 
government cordially to embrace the terms of peace. 



bi 



CHAPTER XXII. 



Russian Mediation proposed to Mr. Adams. — Communicated to the Ame- 
rican Government. — Accepted. — Appointment of Envoys. — Their In- 
structions. — Mediation rejected by the Prince Regent. — British 
Proposition for a Direct Negotiation. — Accepted by the United 
States. — Appointment of Additional Envoys. — ^Their Instructions. — 
Meeting of the British and American Envoys at Ghent. — Britisli 
Propositions, and Ultimatum. — American Propositions. — British En- 
voys communicate with their Government, and receive different In- 
structions. — Their Ultimatum waived. — The Negotiations proceed, 
and terminate in a Treaty of Peace. — Treaty ratified by both €k)V- 
crnments. — Proceedings at New-Orleans immediately after the 
Peace. — Rejoicings throughout the United States. — President's Mes- 
sage, communicating the subject to Congress. — Peace Establishment- 
— Effects of the War on the National Character. 



liussian Medlalion proposed. At the period when the in- 
telligence of the war reached the emperor of Russia, his em- 
jiire was invaded by a French army which was then a])- 
jHoaching his capital, and threatened the subjugation of tht: 
nation. The whole Russian population was in arms for thf 
defence of their tenitory. England was in close alliance with 
Russia, and was the only European power, not under the 
control of France. Russia depended on her for important 
aids at this crisis. It was therefore with the deepest solici- 
tude that the emperor viewed this war, which would necessa- 
rily cause a powerful diversion of the English force from 
their common enemy. Russia was at this time on friendly 
terms with the United States, and a considerable commerce 
existed between the two countries, protitabk to both. Pow- 
erful motives of interest induced the Russian government, to 
desire a speedy termination of the American war, which they 
termed an episode to the European. On the 20th of Sep- 
tember. 1813, Count Romanaoff the Ruisian tthancellor and 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAK. 4«.) 

secretary of state, addressed a note to Mr. Adams, the Ameri- 
can minister, requesting an interview with him the next eve- 
ning, at which, by the emperor's command, he stated, thai, 
having made peace and established the relations of amity 
and commerce with Great Britain, the emperor was much 
disappointed to find, that the 'Ahole benefit, which he ex- 
pected his subjects to derive from that event was likely to be 
defeated by this new war. That it had occurred to the em- 
peror that an amicable arrangement between the parties 
might be better accomplished, and the differences more easily 
accommodated by an indirect, than by a direct negotiation. 
That his majesty had directed him to inquire if the American 
ambassador was aware of any difficulty on the part of the 
United States, if he should offer his mediation for the puppose 
of effecting a pacification. 

Mr Adams replied, that it was impossible for him to speak 
on the subject otherwise, than from the general knowledge 
he had of the sentiments of his government. That so far 
from knowing what their ideas were as to the continuance of 
the war, he had not at that moment received any official in- 
formation of its declaration. But that he well knew it was 
with reluctance that they engaged in the war, and he was very 
sure that whatever determination they might form upon the 
proposal of the emperor's mediation, they would consider his 
proposal as a new evidence of the emperor's friendship for 
the United States ; and he knew of no obstacle or difficulty 
which would occasion them to decline it. The American 
minister proceeded to remark, that he knew the war must 
affect unfavourably the interests of Russia, be highly injuri- 
ous both to the United States and England, and no good 
likely to result from it to any one. 

The Count replied, that he had considered it altogether in 
the same light, and so had the emperor, who had himself con- 
ceived the idea of authorizing this mediation. lie thought 
that an indirect negotiation conducted at Petersburgh, aided 
by the conciliatory wishes of a friend to both parties might 



484 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 22- 

smooth down difficulties, which in a direct discussion between 
the principals, might be found insuperable. To a mutual 
friend, each party might exhibit all its claims and complaints, 
without danger of exciting irritation, or raising impediments. 
The part of Russia would be to hear both sides, and use her 
best endeavours to conciliate them.* 

On the 8th of March, 1813, Mr. Daschkoff, the Russian 
minister to the United States, by order of the emperor, commu- 
nicated his offer of mediation to the American government; ob- 
serving that his imperial majesty foresees with great regret 
the shackles which this new episode opposes to the commer- 
cial prosperity of nations. The love^of humanity, and what 
the emperor owes to his subjects, whose commerce has al- 
ready sufficiently suffered, command him to do every thing 
in his power to remove the evils which this war is preparing 
for those nations who will not take part in it. His majesty is 
convinced that America has done all she could to prevent 
this rupture. In a direct discussion, every thing would tend 
to excite the prejudices and asperities of the parties ; to pre- 
vent this, his majesty, gratified at being able to give a proof 
of his friendship alike to the king of Great Britian and the 
United States offers them his mediation; and should be 
highly gratified if a like disposition on the part of the United 
States should have the eftect of stopping the progress of this 
new war, and of extinguishing it in its origin. 

Accepted by the United States. This offer of mediation 
was readily accepted on the part of the United States; and 
on the nth of March, the secretary of state answered the 
note of Mr. Daschkoff by observing, that the President was 
highly gratified with these strong proofs of that humane and 
enlightened policy which had characterized the reign of the 
emperor of Russia ; and saw in the overture, and in the cir- 
cumstances attending it, the friendly interest which his impe- 
rial majesty takes in the welfare of the United States. A war 

* Mr. Adams to the secretary of state. 



ii$U. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 4Ma 

between Great Britain and the United States, must materially 
affect the commerce of Russia ; and it was worthy of the 
high character of a prince, distinguished by his attachment to 
the interests of his subjects, to interpose his good offices for 
the restoration of peace. The United States, conscious that 
they were not the aggressors in the contest, but on the con- 
trary, had borne wrongs for a series of years before they 
appealed to arms in defence of their rights, are ready to lay 
them down as soon as Great Britain ceases to violate them. 
Many inconveniences attending a direct communication be- 
teen the parties, may be avoided by the mediation of a third 
power, possessing the entire confidence of both belligerents. 
To the claim of Russia to that distinguished consideration, the 
President, in behalf of the United States, expresses his full 
acknowledgment; and in the personal qualities and high 
character of the emperor, the President finds a sacred pledge 
for the justice and impartiality which may be expected from 
his decision. Under these impressions, the President will- 
ingly accepts the mediation of the emperor to promote peace 
between the United States and Great Britain ; and such 
arrangements will be made without delay, as will afford his 
imperial majesty the opportunity he has invited to interpose 
his good offices for the accomplishment of so desirable an 
event.* 

Commissioners appointed. In conformity with these views, 
and without waiting to know whether Great Britain would 
accept the proposed mediation, the President, in the recess of 
the senate, immediately appointed Albert Gallatin, and James 
A. Bayard, in conjunction with Mr. Adams, the American 
minister at Petersburgh, jointly and severally, to negotiate a 
peace with Great Britain, under the mediation of Russia : 
the two former to proceed directly from the United States 



* Correspondence between Mr. Daschkoff and the secretary of stale 
of May 8th and 17th, 1813. 



18U HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR.. Chap. 2-2. 

to join their colleague in Russia on the business of their mis- 
sion. 

At the meeting of congress in the following May, the nomi- 
nation of the envoys was laid before the senate for their ap- 
probation. To the appointment of Adams, and Bayard, 
there were no personal objections. But the senate, impressed 
with a sense of the singularity of the measure of appointing 
and sending envoys to Russia, to negotiate a peace with 
Great Britain, without any assurance or intimation that that 
power would accede to the negotiation, hesitated to confirm 
the nominations. To them it appeared that this measure, 
manifesting an over-anxiety for peace, was calculated to de- 
feat the object. Relying however on the wisdom of the 
executive, and unwilling to take any measure which should 
have the appearance of opposition to peace, the nominations 
of Adams and Bayard were confirmed. Mr. Gallatin being 
secretary of the treasury, and the duties of that office being 
at this time of the most urgent nature, his appointment was 
strenuously opposed. A resolution passed the senate, de- 
claring it incompatible with the public interest to unite the 
offices of secretary of the treasury and envoy to a foreign 
court in the same person: and another inquiring of the 
President whether the office of secretary of the treasury was 
vacated by the appointment of Mr. Gallatin, ajad his accept- 
ance of the office of envoy ; and if not, under what authority 
and by whom the duties of that office were to be discharged, 
in his absence. In reply, the President stated, that the office 
was not vacated, and that the duties would be discharged, 
during the absence of Mr. Gallatin, by the secretary of the 
navy. The senate then appointed a committee to confer 
with the President upon the subject. On their waiting on 
liim, he observed, that he regretted that the appointment of 
die envoys was made under circumstances which deprived 
him of the aid and advice of the senate : he regretted also 
that they had not taken the same view of the subject that be 
jind done. As a co-ordinate branch of the government, he 



IS 14. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 487 

could hold no conference with a committee of the senate, on 
the subject of the appointment. That in relation to treaties, 
and appointments to office, the President and senate were 
independent of, and co-ordinate with, each other. If they 
agree, the appointments are made; if they disagree, they 
fail. If the senate wish for any information previous to their 
final decision, the practice has been, ever keeping in view the 
constitutional relation between the President and senate, to 
request the executive to furnish it, or to refer the subject to a 
committee of their body, who might communicate on the subject 
with the head of the proper department. The appointment of a 
committee of the senate to confer immediately with the execu- 
tive himself, seems to lose sight of the co-ordinate relation 
between the executive and senate, which the constitution has 
established. The President added, he was entirely per- 
suaded of the purity of the intentions of the senate in the 
course they had taken, and with which, according to his 
view of the subject, he could not accord ; that they would be 
cheerfully furnished with all the suitable information on the 
subject in possession of the executive, in any mode consistent 
with the principles of the constitution and the settled practice 
under it. On the question to advise and consent to the ap- 
pointment of Mr. Gallatin, in the senate the yeas were 17 
and the nays 18.* Mr. Gallatin was, however, long before 
this, under the appointment of the President in the recess of 
the senate, on his way to Russia, and his appointment was 
afterwards confirmed. 

Their Instructions. On the 1 5th of Api'il, the envoys were 
furnished with their full powers, and with their instructions 
in detail from the department of state. In these it is stated, 
that " the impressment of of seamen, and illegal blockades, as 
more particularly exemplified in the orders in council are the 
principal causes of the war ; had not Great Britain ob- 
stinately persisted in the violation of these important rights, 

'" Journals of the senate, June 1813- 



488 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. '22. 

war would not have been declared. It will cease as soon 
as their rights are respected. The proposition made by 
Mr. Russell to the British government immediately after the 
war, and the answer given soon after to Admiral Warren's 
letter, show the grounds on which the United States are will- 
ing to adjust the controversy relative to impressment. This 
is further evinced by the report of the committee of foreign 
relations, and the act of congress in consequence thereof. 
To accomodate this important difterence, the United States are 
willing to exclude British seamen altogether from the Ameri- 
can service, ft is fairly to be presumed that if this law is 
carried into effect, it will exclude all British seamen from 
American vessels. As a further ground, the President is 
willing to stipulate, that all native British subjects who shall 
hereafter be naturalized, shall be with this condition, that they 
be not employed in the American sea service. 

In requiring that the stipulation to exclude British seamen 
from American vessels, with the regulations for carrying it in- 
to effect, be reciprocal ; it is desirable that a provision be 
be made, by which the United States might dispense with the 
obligation it imposes on American citizens. The liberal spi- 
rit of the laws and government of the United Stales, \i-m^ 
friendly to restrictions on their citizens, such at least as are 
imposed on British subjects to prevent their becoming mem- 
bers of other societies. To secure the citizens of the United 
States against impressment is the object ; a clear and distinci, 
provision must be made against this practice ; the precise form 
is not insisted on, jirovided the import be explicit. All that is 
required is, that in consideration of the act to be performed on 
the part of the United States, the British government shall 
stipulate in some adequate manner to terminate or forbear 
the practice. It has been suggested as an expedient mode 
of adjusting the controversy, that British cruisers shall have 
risfht to search American vessels for their seamen : but that 
(heir commanders shall be subject to penalties in case they 
make mistakes and take American citizens. Bv such an ar 



i814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 489 

rangement, the British government would acquire the right of 
search for seamen, and with it, that of impressing from Amer- 
ican vessels the subjects of all other powers. By admitting 
the right, the principle is given up, and the door opened 
to every kind of abuse. The same objection is applicable 
to every other arrangement, which withholds the respect due 
to the American flag, by not allowing it to protect all who 
sail under it. 

As a necessary incident to any mode of adjustment it is ex- 
pected that all American seamen who have been impressed 
will be discharged, and those who have been naturalized un- 
der British laws by compulsive service be permitted to with- 
draw. The great object with regard to impressment is, that 
the American flag shall protect its crew : providing for this in 
a satisfactory manner, the envoys are empowered effisctually 
to secure Great Britain against the employment of her sea- 
men in the service of the United States, and to adopt any 
measures consistently with the spirit of the constitution, which 
shall be likely to accomplish the object. To the exclusion of 
British seamen from the American service no repugnance is 
felt. It is a growing sentiment in the United Stales, that they 
ought to depend on their own population for the supply of 
their ships of war, and merchant service ; and experience 
lias shown that it is an abundant resource. 

A strong desire has heretofore been expressed by the 
British government, to obtain from the United States an ar- 
sangement to prevent the detention of British seamen from 
iheir vessels in American ports. It cannot be doubted 
that a stipulation to that effisct would be highly satisfac- 
tory as well as useful to Great Britain. This alone, it is 
presumed, will furnish a strong inducement to enter into 
a satisfactory arrangement on the subject of impress- 
ment. The claim is not inadmissible, especially as the 
United States have a reciprocal interest in the restoration of 
deserters from American vessels in British ports. An article 
such as has been heretofore authorized by the United 
States may be_adopted, making it the duty of eacn party to 

62 



^0 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 23- 

deliver them up. On the right of the United States to be ex- 
empted from the degrading practice of impressment, it is need- 
less to add, the practice is utterly repugnant to the law of na- 
tions, supported by no treaty, nor acquiesced in by any 
nation. A submission to it by the United States would be 
the abandonment in favour of Great Britain of all claim to 
neutral rights, and of all other rights on the ocean. The 
practice is not founded on any belligerent right : the greatest 
extent to which the belligerent claim has been carried over 
the vessels of neutral nations, has been to board and take from 
them persons employed in the land and sea service of an en- 
emy, goods contraband of war, and enemy's property. In 
all the discussions cf questions on neutral rights, nothmg of 
the British claim of impressment is found, no acknowledg- 
ment of it in any treaty, or submission to it by any power. 
This claim has forthe first time been set up against the United 
States only. The claim is in fact traced to another source, 
the allegiance due by British subjects to their sovereign, and 
his right by virtue thereof to their service. 

" Allegiance," the instructions proceed to remark, " is a 
political relation between the sovereign and his people, whiclt 
binds the latter in return for the protection they receive. 
These reciprocal duties have the same hmit ; they are con- 
fined to the dominions of the sovereign, beyond which he has 
no rights, can afford no protection, and can of course claim 
no allegiance. A citizen or subject of one power entering 
the dominions of another, owes allegiance to the latter in re- 
turn for the protection he receives. Whether the sovereign has 
a right to claim the service of such of his subjecis as have left 
his own dominions, is a question respecting which a difference 
of opinion may exist. Certain it is that no sovereign has a 
right to pursue his subjects into the territory of another, be the 
object what it may. Such an entry, without the consent of 
the other power, would be a violation of its territory. That 
the vessels of a nation are considered as a partof the territo- 
ry, with the exception of the belligerent right only, is a prin- 



1^514. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 491 

ciple too well established to be brought into discussion. 
Each has the exclusive jurisdiction over its own vessels. Its 
laws govern in them, and offences against their laws 
are punishable by its tribunals only. The flag of a nation 
protects every thing sailing under it in time of peace ; and in 
time of war likewise with the exception of the belligerent 
right growing out of a state of v^^ar. An entry on board of 
the vessels of one power by the cruisers of another, in any 
other case, and the exercise of any other authority over them, 
is a violation of right, and an act of hostility. 

The British government, aware of the correctness of this 
doctrine, now say, they do not contend that British cruisers 
have a right to pursue and search American vessels for their 
seamen. But having a right to search them for other objects, 
and being lawfully on board, and finding British seamen 
there, they have a right to impress, and bring them away un- 
der the claim of allegiance. When we see a systematic pur- 
suit of American vessels by British cruisers, and the impress- 
ment of seamen from them, not at a port of the enemy where 
a regular blockade has been instituted, but on the ocean, on 
the American coast and harbours, it is difficult to believe that 
impressment is not the real motive, and the other only a pre- 
text. The British government founds its right of impress- 
ment on that of allegiance, which is a permanent right equally 
applicable to peace and war; the right of impressment 
therefore, from vessels of other powers, must likewise be 
equally permanent; but it would not do to take this broad 
ground, lest the injustice and extravagance of the pretension 
should excite the astonishment and indignation of other 
powers, to whom it would be equally applicable. To claim 
it as a belligerent right would be equally extravagant and 
absurd, no trace of it being found in the belligerent code. 
The British government are therefore reduced to a very em-^ 
barrassing dilemma : to acknowledge that they could not sup- 
port the claim on either principle would be to give it up, and 
yet it could rely on neither. It therefore ent^eavdured to 



492 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22- 

draw some aid from both; and from two indefensible propo- 
sitions to make out one that was tenable. A state of war ex- 
ists which brings the parties together. Great Britain is a 
belligerent, and the United States are a neutral power. Bri- 
tish officers have now a right lo board and search American 
vessels, for persons in their enemy's service, goods contra- 
band of war, and enemy's property. Allegiance, which is 
an attribute of sovereignty, now comes to her aid, and com- 
municates all the necessary power ; the complete right and 
sovereignty of the vessel, is now transferred to Great Britain. 
On this foundation the British government has raised the 
monstrous superstructure. 

In further justification of the practice, the British ministry 
remark, that tliey exercise no right which they are not willing 
lo accede to the United States. This semblance of equality 
disappears on a moment's examination. It is impossible for 
!he United States to take advantage of it. Impressment is 
not an American practice, but utterly repugnant to her con- 
stitution and laws; in offering to reciprocate it, nothing was 
offered, as Great Britain well knew ; a reciprocation of the 
practice would be no equivalent to the United States. The 
exercise of a right in common at sea by two nations, each 
over the vessels of the other ; the one powerful, and the 
other comparatively weak, would be to place the latter com- 
pletely at the mercy of the former. Great Britain, with her 
vast navy, would soon be the only power which made im- 
pressments. She has thirty ships of war to one of the United 
.States, and would profit by the arrangement in that propor- 
tion. Besides impressment is a practice incident to war 
only, in which view, the inequality is not less glaring; she 
being at least thirty years at war to one of the United States. 

Had Great Britain found the employment of her seamen in 
the American service injurious to her, and been disposed to 
respect the most sacred rights of the American nation, her 
regular and only legitimate course would have been in the 
fir§t instance to have remonstrated to the American govern- 



I3i4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 483 

ment, and proposed a remedy. Had reasonable redress been 
refused, the British government would have had some plea 
for taking the remedy into their own hands. Such complaint 
was never made, except in defence of the practice of impress- 
ment, and in the mean time the usage had progressed; and 
with all its abuses, had resistance been longer delayed, might 
have become a law. The origin and progress of this usurpa- 
tion afford strong illustrations of the British policy. The 
practice and the claim began together soon after the revolu- 
tionary war, and was applicable to deserters only : it next 
extended to all British seamen ; then to all British subjects, 
as in the case of the emigrants from Ireland, who not being 
sea-faring men, would not have been subject to impressment 
in British ports; and finally it was extended to Swedes, 
Danes, and others known not to be British subjects, and by 
their protections appearing to be citizens of the United 
States. 

The mediation offered by Russia, presents to Great Britain, 
as well as to the United Stales, a fair opportunity of accom- 
modating this controversy with honour. The interposition 
of so distinguished a power, friendly to both parties, cannot 
on any just ground be declined by either, especially by Great 
Britain, between whom and Russia there exists a very inter 
esting relation. Should Great Britain decline an accommo- 
dation upon the terms offered, her motive cannot be mistaken. 
The cause of the United States would in that case become 
the common cause of nations. They would all find in the 
conduct of Great Britain, an unequivocal determination to 
destroy the rights of other flags, and to usurp the absolute 
dominion of the ocean. 

The adjustment of the controversy relating to impressment 
only, though very important, would leave much unfinished. 
Almost every neutral right has been violated, and its viola- 
tion persisted in, until war was declared. A strong hope is 
entertained that the British commissioners will have full 
powers to adjust all these grounds of controversy in a satis- 



ii)4 HISTORY ©F THE LATE WAR. Chap. 2if. 

factory manner. The violation of neutral rights by illegal 
blockades, carried to an enormous extent by the orders in 
council, was a principal cause of the war; these orders and 
blockades being now repealed, all that. is expected, is, that 
the British government should unite in a more precise defini- 
tion of blockade. 

An interference with the American commerce between en- 
emy's colonies, and the parent country, was among the viola- 
tions of neutral rights committed by Great Britain in the pre- 
sent war with France. It took place in 1805, did extensive 
injury, and produced universal excitement. The capture 
by Great Britain of almost all the islands of her enemies, 
has very much diminished the importance of this subject; but 
as these may be restored by a treaty of peace, it merits partic- 
ular attention. Unless a trade with them can be authorized to 
a proper extent, and without a relinquishment of the princi- 
ple claimed by the United States, it will be best that the 
treaty should be silent upon the subject. The practice of 
Great Britain to interdict the passage of neutral vessels with 
their cargoes from one port to another of an enemy, is illegal 
and injurious to the commerce of neutral powers ; still more 
imjustifiable is the attempt to interdict their passage from a 
port of one independoiit nation to that of another, on the pre- 
tence that they are both enemies." The envoys were in- 
structed to obtain, if possible, security against the violation of 
these rights. They were authorized to conclude a peace, in 
case a satisfactory stipulation against impressment could be 
obtained, one which should secure, under the American Hag. 
protection for the crew. If this encroachment is not pro- 
vided against, the instructions observe, " the United States 
have appealed to arms in vain. If your efibrts to accomplish 
it should fail, all further negotiation must cease, and you will 
return home without delay."* 

* Instructions to the American Envoys, April 15, 1813. 



iUi4. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 49:, 

With these instructions the envoys sailed from the United 
States on the 16th of May, for Petersburgh, to negotiate 
a peace with Great Britain, without knowing when, or wheth- 
er ever, they should meet British commissioners on the sub- 
ject. 

Mediation rejected by Great Britain. The British cabinet 
iook a very different course in relation to the mediation. They 
were well aware that their claims. were of a nature not to be 
submitted to the arbitration or mediation of any third power. 
They were usurpations of neutral rights, to be maintained only 
by the overbearing power of her navy. They could have no 
expectation that these claims would be recognised by any sove- 
reign as a part of the code of nations, to which his own sub- 
jects might in turn, be obliged to submit. Russia, in compar- 
ison with Great Britain, had always been much the weaker 
maritime power, seldom engaged in naval war, always an ad- 
vocate for neutral rights, and opposed to British belligerent 
claims. The British cabinet had not forgotten that in the war 
of the American revolution, when Great Britain was engaged 
in a maritime war with France and Spain, Russia set on foot, 
and placed herself at the head of an armed neutrality, em- 
bracing Sweden and Denmark, in support of the same princi- 
ples, impressment excepted, for which the United States were 
now contending. However intimate and friendly the rela^ 
tions between Great Britain and Russia might now be, it was 
little to be expected that the British cabinet would submit 
what they claimed to be their maritime rights to a power 
which had always opposed them. 

On the first of September, 1813, the British ministry, 
after having held the proposition of Russia for a mediti- 
tion under consideration for nearly a year, reciprocated 
the friendly professions of his imperial majesty, express- 
ed their desire of peace, and duly appreciated the pure 
and friendly motives from which it proceeded : biit re- 
marked that their contest with America related to certain 
principles and rights of the British nation, which were not of. 



496 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22. 

a nature to be submitted to any foreign power ; and though 
the Prince Regent, on this account, found himself in a situa- 
tion not to accept the offered mediation, yet he was very de- 
sirous of giving effect, in a different mode, to the benevolent 
wishes which his imperial majesty had expressed of seeing the 
war terminated to the mutual satisfaction of both govern- 
ments. That with this view having learned that the Ameri- 
can envoys for negotiating a peace under the mediation of his 
imperial majesty had arrived in Russia, notwithstanding he 
finds himself under the necessity of not accepting the nego- 
tiation of any friendly power, in the question which forms 
the principal subject of dispute between the two states, yet he 
is ready to nominate plenipotentiaries, to treat directly with 
the American envoys, and his Royal Highness sincerely wish- 
es, that these conferences might result in re-establishing be- 
tween the two nations, the blessings and reciprocal advan- 
tages of peace. If, through the good offices of his imperial 
majesty, this proposition should be accepted, the Prince Re- 
gent is desirous that the conferences should be held at Lon- 
don ; but if this presents insuperable objections, Gottenburgh 
may be substituted. 

The duties which the American government expected of 
his imperial majesty, in consequence of his mediation, were, 
to endeavour, by friendly conferences with both parties, to 
bring them to such concessions as should lead to peace ; that 
he should impartially hftar the claims advanced on both sides, 
and determine on their justice, and endeavour to bring the 
party, whose claims in his opinion were not well founded, to 
relinquish them ; or, in case that could not be effected, to 
point out some middle course on which the parties might meet, 
and by all fair and honourable methods, to bring about a re- 
conciliation : but as a mediator, he was not expected to guar- 
ranty or enforce his decisions. The parties would still be 
at liberty to reject them, and the only consequence would be, 
the party refusing to abide by the opinions of the mediator, 
would afterwards pursue the war, under the imputation of 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 497 

being the aggressor. But even this was too much to be haz- 
arded by the British cabinet. 

Proposition for a direct Negotiation. On the 4th of No- 
vember, Lord Castlereagh communicated to the American 
secretary of state a proposition from the British government 
for a direct negotiation at Gottenburgh. 

Accepted. This proposition reached Washington on the 
1st of January, 1814, and was promptly accepted, 
Messrs. Clay and Russell were added to the commis- 
sioners, and on the 28th of January received their instruc- 
tions from the department of state, referring them to those 
of the 15th of the preceding April to the commissioners under 
the proposed Russian mediation, as the basis of theirnegotia- 
tions. On the subject of impressment, the secretary remarks, 
I have nothing to add ; the sentiments of the President re- 
main unchanged ; this degrading practice must cease ; the 
American flag must protect its crew, or the United States 
cannot consider themselves as an independent nation. In 
accepting the overture of the British government, to treat inde= 
pendently of the Russian mediation, the United States have 
acted on principles which have governed them in every trans- 
action relating to peace since the war. Had the British gov? 
ernment accepted of the mediation, the United States would 
have treated, for themselves, independently of any other 
power. In agreeing to treat directly with Great Britain, no 
concession is contemplated in any point in controversy. Th6 
same desire is cherished to preserve a good understand- 
ing with Russia and the other Baltic powers as if the nego- 
tiation had taken place under the proposed mediation.* 

With these instructions, Messrs. Clay and Russell sailed 
from the United States on the 25th February to join their col- 
leagues. The American commissioners assembled at Gotten- 
burgh in April 1814 ; and after waiting there a considerable 
time in expectation of meeting the British com,missioners, they 

= ' Instructions of the 28th January, 1814> 
63 



4d8 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22. 

received a proposition from the British government to transfer 
the negotiations to Ghent. This was accepted, and the Amer- 
ican commissioners thereupon immediately repaired to that city. 
Delays of the British. As Great Britain was' the proposer 
of this direct negotiation it was justly expected of her, that i^ 
should not on her account suffer any delay. But having kept 
the American government in suspense a year, on the subject 
of the Russian mediation ; it was nine months after the pro- 
position for a direct negotiation was made before the arrival 
of her commissioners at the place by her designated for the 
meeting. No satisfactory apology was given for this con- 
duct ; it is to be accounted for only by a reference to the^po- 
litical state of Europe. When the p-oposition was first made, 
Bonaparte, though his affairs were in the wane, was yet a 
formidable enemy to England, and all her exertions were 
still important in Europe. At the time the British commis- 
sioners were appointed, Bonaparte was subdued, peace had 
been established in Europe, and the choicest of the British 
forces had been selected and sent to America. This was 
deemed by her a favourable time to negotiate ; not only to 
maintain and enforce all her maritime claims, but also to 
bring forward others of a new and inadmissible character. 
Her commissioners were instructed to give up none of her 
maritime claims, to accede to no argreement to compensate for 
past injuries ; but to bring forward claims for cessions of territo- 
ry, and other sacrifices to which none but a conquered coun- 
(ry could submit. At length, on the 6th of August, 1814, 
the British commissioners, Admiral Lord Gambier, Henry 
Golburn, and William Adams, arrived at Ghent. 
'• The pohtical changes in Europe had produced an entirely 
different view on the subject of the negotiations in the Ameri- 
can cabinet. All expectation of conquest on the Canadian 
frontier was at an end. The ability of their enemy to ravage 
and desolate the frontier and sea-board, was now alarmingly 
increased, and with their ability, their disposition to do it had 
"bjRen abundantly manifested. At the same time the difficul- 



1814. fflSTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 499 

lies arid embarrassments attending the raising and supporting 
a military force sufficient to meet those events were also in- 
creased. The state of the finances and the public credit had 
assumed a most unpromising aspect. If peace could be 
made upon the principle of restoring things to the state they 
were in before the war, there was no possible inducement to 
continue it. The subject of impressment had now ceased to 
be of any practical importance. Great Britain, having more 
seamen than she wanted on hand, had no inducement to in- 
crease their numbers from AmeSi'ican vessels. It was not ex- 
pected that she would now yield a point, for which she hazard- 
ed a war under the most unfavourable circumstances. 

JVea? Instruction to the American Envoys. In this vieWj 
the American cabinet, on the 25th of June, revised their in- 
structions of the 15th of April, 1813, and 28th of January, 
1814, and transmitted to their envoys others of a different 
ciiaracter, and adapted to the crisis^ They were instructed 
that in case no stipulation could be obtained, neither reUn- 
quishing the claim, or discontinuing the practice of impress- 
ment, they might concur in an article stipulating that this 
subject, together with the subject of trade and navigation gen- 
erally, might be referred to a separate negotiation, to be under- 
taken without delay, and that in the mean time all rights 
should remain as they then were. The instructions remark, 
that the United States having resisted by war the practice of 
impressment and continued the war until the practice had 
ceased by a peace in Europe, their object had been essen* 
tially obtained for the present, and it was hoped that the con- 
templated arrangement would take effect before a new war 
"m Europe would furnish occasion for a renewal of the prac- 
tice. Two days afterwards, in consequence of letters re- 
ceived from Messrs. Gallatin and Bayard, intimating that all 
expectation of obtaining any stipulation on the subject of im- 
pressment would be hopeless, the commissioners weie inform- 
ed that on mature consideration it had been decided, that un- 
der all the circumstances incident to a prosecution of tjie.^'ary 



,100 HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22- 

fv 

they might omit any stipulation on the subject of impress- 
ment, if indispensably necessary to attain a peace. This ex- 
pedient was not to be resorted to until every effort to termi- 
nate the controversy in a more satisfactory manner had 
failed.* 

On the 11th of August, the commissioners were further in- 
structed that government Avould go no further, because it will 
make no sacrifice of the righ or honour of the nation. If 
Great Britain s not willing to terminate the war on these 
terms, it is because she has other objects in view, than those 
for which she has hitherto professed to contend. That there 
are such, there is muc. reason tt apprehend. These, what- 
ever they may be, must and will be resisted by the United 
States. The conflict may be severe, but it will be borne 
with firmness.* 

The American commissioners, furnished with instructions 
so liberal, authorizing them to waive every point for which 
the war was commenced, it was hoped, would be able to 
bring the negotiation to a speedy conclusion. But the diffi- 
culties and delays experienced in the outset, were multiplied 
in its progress. 

First Conference. On the 8th of August, the envoys of the 
two governments held their first conference, the object of 
which was merely to bring into view the subjects that were 
likely to present themselves for discussion in the course of 
the negotiation. On the part of the British, they stated, 

1* The subject of impressment, and connected with it. 
that of natural allegiance. 

2. A pacification with the Indian allies of Great Britain, 
and an establishment of a permanent Indian boundary. 

3. A revision of the boundary line between the British and 
American territories. 

4. The subject of the fisheries on the British Nbrth Ameri- 
can coast. 



^ Instructions of the 25th and 27th of June 
\ Instructions of the 1 1th of Aujcust. 



1814. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. ^ iiOl 

The American commissioners stated, that on the first and 
third subjects proposed by the British, they were instructed 
to negotiate : on the second and fourth, the American gov- 
ernment, not knowing that there was any controversy upon 
these subjects, had given them no instructions. As further 
subjects of discussion, they proposed a definition of blockade 
and other neutral and belligerent rights ; and claims of 
indemnity to individuals for illegal captures and seizures. 
Immediately after this interview, the British envoys despatch- 
a courier to London, and no further proceedings were had 
until his return. 

Second Conference. — -British sine qua non. On the 1 9th 
of August, the British commissioners proposed another con- 
ference ; at which they stated as a preliminary, without 
which all further discussion would be useless : that the In- 
dians must be included in the pacification, and a permanent 
boundary established for them, beyond which the United 
States should never purchase, settle, or occupy any territory. 
The region which should be included between the Indian 
boundary line, and the British possessions, to remain for ever 
uninhabited, except by Indians, and as a permanent barrier, 
between the British and American territories. The boundary 
proposed, subject however to some modifications, was the 
same as that of Wayne's treaty at Granville, in the year 
1795, and would now include within the Indian lines, a terri- 
tory as ex.tensive as one quarter of the United States, and 
one hundred thousand white inhabitants. 

Other Claims. This being agreed to, they would next 
proceed to discuss their other claims, the most prominent of 
which were, that the military occupation of the lakes from 
Ontario to Superior, both inclusive, should be held exclu- 
sively by the British, with a stipulation, that on the American 
lake shore, no military post should be erected within a speci- 
fied distance. 

A direct communication by land between Halifax and Que- 
bec, to be secured to the British bv a cession of that part of 



502 ^^ HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR> Chap. 22. 

the state of Massachusetts which intervenes ; this they ob- 
served was now in their possession, and must be confirmed to 
them as the price of peace. 

Moose and other islands in Passamaquoddy bay, which the 
United States have held since the peace of 1783, and which 
the British have taken this season, to be ceded to them as 
being within the new boundary. 

The right of fishing on the British North American coast, 
and curing fish on the uninhabited islands and shores hitherto 
enjoyed by the Americans, to be given up. 

British Claims transmitted to America. In this stage of 
the negotiation, the American commissioners ordered the John 
Adams to the United States, with their despatches, remarking, 
that the demands of Great Britain would receive from them 
a unanimous and decided negative; that there appeared not 
the least hope of peace, and that the negotiation would proba- 
bly soon close. 

These documents were received at Washington on the 
10th of October, and immediately communicated to congress, 
together with the instructions given the commissioners. The 
disclosure produced but one sensation in the United States. 
All concurred in the opinion, that the American cabinet, in 
its instructions to the negotiators, had gone as far as the in- 
interest or honour of the United States would permit for the 
attainment of peace. They saw in them authority given 
the commissioners to pass over in silence every object for 
which the United States had engaged in war ; the important 
subjects of impressment, illegal blockades, and compensation 
for illegal seizures were all waived, and peace sought without 
even a recognition on the part of Great Britain of any of the 
American claims. No citizen of the United States wished 
the government to make further concessions. When therefore 
they saw that it was demanded by the British commissioners 
as a preliminary to any further proceedings, a permanent, 
irrevocable cession of more that one quarter of the territory 
of the United States, to a few Indian tribes, whom the 



ItiU. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 603 

British had associated with them in the war for the purpose of 
desolating the American frontier : when they saw the British 
seriously claim a cession of a considerable portion of Massa- 
chusetts, for the accommodation of an intercourse between 
their possessions, and the exclusive military occupation of the 
lakes with a prohibition of the Americans from establishing 
military posts on their own shores ; but one sentiment pre- 
vailed as to the propriety of rejecting the terms, and prose- 
cuting the war with increased vigour. The administration 
had indeed to bear the most severe strictures of that portion 
of the American nation who were opposed to the war for 
bringing the country into so unhappy a situation. These 
censures however were retorted with equal severity upon the 
opposition, who, it was said, by their open and avowed dis- 
affection to the government, the obstructions which they had 
thrown in the way of carrying on the war, the aids they had 
given the British, and the symptoms of revolt which they had 
manifested, had encouraged the enemy to to continue the 
war, and induced these extravagant demands. But for this 
opposition, they claimed, peace would long since have been 
obtained upon honourable terms. From these recrimination? 
of the past, both parties united in the necessity of powerful 
exertions in future. The commissioners were now daily ex- 
pected home, and congress were preparing the arrangements 
necessary to meet the crisis. 

Reply of the American Commissioners to the British Clahns^^ 
The negotiations however still continued. On the 24th ot 
August, the American commissioners addressed a note to the 
British, stating that the claims advanced by them, were such 
as none but a conquered nation could accept, degrading, 
humiliating, and deeply injurious to America, and of no solid 
advantage to Great Britain. That the United States were 
not in a situation to submit to such degradation ; and even if 
a peace could be now obtained upon these terms, it would be 
of very short duration. They further represented, that a 
peace with the Indian tribes would necessarily result from a 



504 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap 12. 

peace with Great Britain. America had no interest or inch- 
nation to continue the war with the Indians. They would of 
course be restored to the same privileges as they enjoyed 
before the war; these enabled them to enjoy their own cus- 
toms, regulate their concerns, and improve their lands in their 
own way, until they were wilUngand desirous of exchanging 
them with the United States for considerations to them of 
more value. The American commissioners further distinctly 
stated to the British, that the causes of the war having disap- 
peared by the maritime pacification of Europe, the United 
States did not wish to continue it in defence of abstract princi- 
ples, which for the present had ceased to have any practical 
effect, and that they were instructed to agree to its termina- 
tion, both parties restoring whatever territory they had taken, 
and both retaining all their rights in relation to their respect- 
ive seamen. This proposition by the American commission- 
ers, to pass over in silence those subjects and leave them as 
they were at the commencement of the war, was transmitted 
by the British commissioners to their government, and in the 
meantime the correspondence between the commissioners 
continued : the British claiming that it was perfectly obvi- 
■ous, that the conquest of Canada and its permanent annexa- 
tion to the United States was the declared object of the 
American government ; that if in consequence of a different 
^course of events on the continent of Europe, the United 
States had obtained a decided superiority in that quarter, 
they would have availed themselves of their situation, to ob- 
tain on the side of Canada important cessions of territory or 
the entire abandonment of that country by Great Britain. 

On the other hand the American commissioners contended 
that no such views were entertained by the United States. 
They had always been ready and desirous of peace, upon 
an adjustment of their maritime claims, each nation retaining 
its territory as it existed before the war. That no views of 
aggrandizement or desire of adding to their territory was^ 
iustly imputable to them. 



ViU. HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 505 

British Commissioners receive additional Instructions. The 
British ministry, perceiving that the American government 
had consented to waive all discussion of their maritime claims, 
and that no cession of territory could be obtained, gave addi- 
tional instructions to their commissioners, authorizing them to 
waive the subject of a permanent Indian boundary, and their 
claims respecting the military occupation of the lakes. In 
In pursuance of these instructions, on the 8th of October, the 
British addressed a note to the American envoys, proposing 
on the subject of an Indian pacification, that each party 
should stipulate, that immediately after the conclusion of 
peace, hostilities should cease between them and the Indian 
nations with whom they might be at war, and the Indians rer 
stored to all the possessions, rights, and privileges whiph they 
enjoyed before the war, provided the Indian nations should 
on their part cease from hostilities. To this arrangement the 
American commissioners had no objections ; though a stipula- 
tion of this nature was not expressly within their instructionSj 
they agreed to it provisionally. 

Their Ultimatum waived. This point being adjusted, and 
the American maritime claims waived, the negotiation pro- 
ceeded with some prospect of a favourable issue. The British 
commissioners claimed that they should proceed upon the 
basis of each party's retaining the possessions they had ac- 
quired at the commencement of the negotiation, subject tp 
such modifications as mutual convenience might suggesto 
This principle would give to the British a considerable por- 
tion of the province of Maine, fort Niagara and a part of the 
Niagara frontier, and to the Americans, Amherstburgh, ancj 
the adjacent territory. The American envoys claimed, that 
these possessions occasionally obtained by either party from 
the other in the course of the war, should be mutually re- 
stored, and each party placed on the footing they stood at 
its commencement. 

Peace concluded. After a variety of negotiations on these 
topics from the 8th of October to the 24th of December, a 
definitive treaty of peace was agreed upon, in which all man*' 

64 



506 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22. 

time claims were passed over in silence, and the relations of 
peace and amity between the two nations, and between them 
and the Indians within their limits, they agreeing to it, were 
restored. Claims for past injuries were waived, and each 
party placed upon the ground they were before the war ; 
provision was made for the survey and demarkation of the 
boundary line between the United States and the British pos- 
sessions, and for the adjustment of all difficulties upon that 
subject, on terms of reciprocity. The subject of fisheries 
upon the British North American coast, as se :ured to the 
United States by the treaty of 1783, was waived, and the 
privilege of fishing and curing fish on these coasts not being 
provided for in this treaty, was considered as given up. The 
treaty was ratified by the Prince Regent on the 27th of De- 
cember, arrived in the United States on the 11th, and was 
ratified by the President and senate on the 17th of February. 
Orders were immediately despatched in every direction for 
the cessation of hostilities. 

Orders transmitted to General Jackson miscarry. The 
postmaster general, despatched a special messenger to Gen- 
eral Jackson at New-Orleans with the treaty, giving orders for 
the postmasters, and mail carriers on the route, to furnish re- 
lays, and forward by every means in their power, the intelli- 
gence. By some accident on the route, the messenger in his 
haste exchanged his despatches for some old military orders, 
and when he came to deliver his papers to General Jackson, 
instead of the official information of the ratification of the 
treaty, the papers produced, were the old military orders. 
During the interval between the first unofficial intelligence of 
peace, and the official information of the ratification of the 
treaty, the soldiers of the army and the citizens of New-Or- 
ieans grew impatient of military restraint. The militia were 
clamorous for their discharge, and a spirit of insubordination 
prevailed. 

Martial Law at New-Orleans continued. The General 
deemed it necessary as long as there was any enemy in the 
neighbourhood, and he without official information of the 



1814/ HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR- 507 

ratification of the treaty, to preserve military order, and not 
relax in his system of defence. 

Lauvallier arrested. The French consul had given certifi- 
cates of French citizenship to numbers of persons in the mi- 
litia, the object of which was to exempt them from military 
services. General Jackson, considering these persons dan- 
gerous to the safety of the city, ordered them to remove into 
the interior, as far as Baton Rouge. LauvaUier, a French- 
man, and member of the Louisiana Legislature, had publish- 
ed several pieces in the New-Orleans papers, condemning 
the measures of General Jackson for the defence of the city, 
as illegal, and advising the citizens that they were not bound 
to obey them. He was also suspected of holding intercourse 
with the enemy. General Jackson, by virtue of the powers 
which he claimed in consequence of his proclamation of mar- 
tial law, ordered this Frenchman to be arrested, and tried by 
a court martial. 

Habeas Corpus disobeyed. On the 6th of March, Lau- 
vaUier applied to Dominic Hall, judge of the United States 
district court, for a writ of habeas corpus, to transfer him 
from a military to a civil tribunal ; this was granted, and 
delivered to the marshal to be served upon the General, who 
considering the suspension of the civil authority as a necessa- 
ry consequence of the proclamation of martial law, refused 
obedience to the writ, dismissed the marshal, retained the 
prisoner, and subjected him to trial. He also arrested and 
imprisoned Judge Hall for issuing the writ. The district at- 
torney then applied to judge Lewis for a habeas corpus in 
favour of judge Hall. He also was arrested under martial 
law, and an order was issued for the arrest of judge Lewis. ' 

Martial Law discontinued. On the 16th of March, official 
intelligence of the peace having arrived, martial law ceased, 
and the civil authorities were discharged from arrest. 

General Jackson arrested for contempt, tried before the Dis- 
trict Court, and convicted. On the 27th, General Jackson 
was arrested and brought before the United States district 
court, holden by judge Hall, to answer to an alleged contempt 



508 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. CHAprSi', 

of that court in disobeying the writ of habeas corpus in the 
case of Lauvallier, and imprisoning the judge who granted 
the process. 

The general alleged, in his defence, the necessary ex- 
isffMce of martial law within the city and precincts of New- 
Orleans at the time of issuing the writ of habeas corpus ; so 
great was the danger, that the judge himself had been induced 
expressly to sanction martial law, abandon his civil functions, 
leave the city, and retire to a place of safety in the interior.. 
The suspension of civil process was the necessary conse- 
quence of the sta e r f the city, and of the proclamation of 
martial law. The genera, also claimed the rightof trial by jury, 
as secured to him by the constitution of the Uiiited States : 
but he wa6 now Upon trial before a judge, for a contempt of 
his authority, and the imprisonment of his person. His claim 
and plea were over-ruled, and the general fined a thousand 
dollars for the contempt. He was accompanied to the court 
by a nunierous crowd of citizens, who considered him as their 
deliverer. The appearance of the scene was more like a 
rtilitary parade than a court of justice. On the sentence 
bfeing pronounced, he was borne from the court-house by the 
citizens, placed in a coach, and drawn by them to his lodgings, 
where a subscription was immediately opened, restricted to a 
dollar a man, to give all an opportunity to subscribe, to pay 
his fine and costs, which were immediately discharged. 

Rejoicings in the United States. All parties in the United 
States sincerely rejoiced at the news of peace. The expres- 
sions of joy were the more lively as the event was altogether 
unexpected. Though intelligence had been received after 
the British ultimatum of the 19th of August, that the negotia- 
tions were continued, ybt it was of such a character as to forbid 
dny well-grounded expectations of a favourable result. The 
American conimissioners, on the 25th of October, which was 
the last intelligence received from them previous to the arri- 
val of the treaty, wrote that although the negotiations had not 
terminated as abruptly as at the date of their last despatches 
^as expe'ctedj yet they find no reason to retract the opinion 



*• Utt HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. 509 

tlierein expressed, that no hopes of peace, as hkely to result 
from it, could be entertained. Without stopping critically to 
inquire whether the treaty secured to them the objects for 
which the war was commenced, the people of the United 
States of all parties, republicans and federalists, the friends 
of the administration and the opposition, the war and the peace 
party, united in celebrating the event. Party names and dis- 
tinctions were for a moment forgotten ; illuminations, festi- 
vals, and rejoicings in various forms, were had in almost every 
city, town, and village in the United States. 

President's Message to Congress on the Peace. In commu- 
nicating this event to Congress, the President congratulates 
them and their constituents upon an event which is highly hon- 
ourable to the nation, and which terminates with peculiar fe- 
licity a campaign signahzed by the most brilhant successes. 
*' The late war,'' he remarks, " although reluctantly de- 
clared by congress, had become necessary to assert the rights 
and independence of the nation. It had been waged with 
success, the natural result of the legislative councils, of the pat- 
riotism of the people, of the public spirit of the militia, and of 
the valour of the military and naval force of the country. 
Peace, at all times a blessing, is peculiarly welcome at a pe- 
riod when the causes of the war had ceased to operate, when 
the government had demonstrated the efficiency of its pow- 
ers of defence, and when the nation can review its conduct 
without regret or reproach." 

The President recommencis to the care and beneficence of 
congress the gallant men whose achievements in every depart- 
ment have contributed to the honour of the American name; 
In recommending a reduction of the public expenditures to the 
demands of a peace establishment, he observes, " that impor- 
tant considerations forbid a sudden and general revocation of 
the measures produced by the war. Experience has taught 
us that neither the pacific dispositions of the American people, 
nor the pacific character of our political institutions, altogefh- 
er exempt them from the strife which appears to be incident 
to this period of the world. The same faithful monitor in- 
structs us that a certain degree of preparation for war is in- 



510 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR.. Chap, 23. 

dispensable to prevent disaster in the outset ; and also af- 
fords the best security for the continuance of peace. He 
concludes with fervently wishing, that the peace which has 
now been declared, may be the foundation of the most friend- 
ly intercourse between the United States and Great Britain, 
and productive of harmony and happiness to our beloved 
country. 

Peace Establishment. The period for which the 13th Con- 
gress was elected expired on the 3d of March 1813, and left 
but fourteen days from the ratification of the treaty to con- 
tinue the session. This time was busily employed inadapting 
their arrangements to a state of peace; Uttle more however 
could be done than to provide for the reduction of the army, 
and suspend ship building on the lakes. The military peace 
establishment, after much controversy between the houses, 
the senate putting it at fifteen, and the house of representa- 
tives at six, was finally fixed at ten thousand. 

The public debt at the close of the war con- 
sisted ©f the debt of the revolution . . . $39,000,000 

The present war debt 85,000,000 



$123,000,000 
The navy consisted of five seventy-fours, not completed ; 
six forty-four gun frigates ; nine from thirty-six to twenty-four j 
twenty-two from twenty to sixteen, and fifty eight smaller ves- 
sels : the whole carrying two thousand guns.* 

Beneficial results of the War. Although the United States 
concluded a treaty without an express recognition of their 
maritime rights ; yet the war, taken in connexion with all its 

* Report of secretary of navy, December 1815. 

On the first of January, 1825, the navy consisted of eleven ships of the 
jine of seventy-four guns, twelve frigates from thirty-two to forty-four 
guns, the steam frigate Fulton of thirty-six guns, and a considerable 
number of ships of war of the smaller class. The national debt at the 
same period, amounted to $86,000,000. The receipts at the treasury du- 
ring the preceding year were $19,630,893.96, being something more 
than one-fifth of the whole debt. 



1814. HISTORY OP THE LATE WAR. 511 

circumstances and consequences, has secured them from fu- 
ture violation. It has fully established the character of the 
United States, for enterprise, skill, and bravery. After a thirty 
years peace, a war of two years drew forth an army able to 
contend on equal terras with European veterans ; and pro- 
duced ships of war which never shunned a combat, or failed 
of success, when an enemy was to be met on equal ground. 
The enterprise and success of American privateers against 
British commerce, rendered the war an unpopular and unprof- 
itable business to the British nation. These cruizers, taking 
stations in the track of their commerce, on their coasts, and 
at the entrance of their harbours, brought the war home to the 
British merchant ; and in the loss of his ships, and in the in- 
creased rate of insurance, made its effects severely felt. The 
war has pointed out to the American nation, by a series of 
facts too plain to be mis&pprehended, the proper means both 
of annayance and defence. The ravages to which the coast 
was subject, in the years 1813 and 14, clearly demonstrated 
the necessity of a naval force sufficient for its protection, and 
as clearly pointed to the species of force best adapted to that 
object. Experience, a convincing, though many times an ex- 
pensive teacher, annihilated the gun-boat system, and induced 
the building of ships of the line and frigates of the larger 
class to such an extent as will effectually protect the coast, 
from any fleet which a European nation will venture to spare 
from her own shores to invade the American, It likewise in- 
duced the building a steam ship of war of a large size, and al- 
though the intervention of peace prevented its efficacy from 
being tested by experiment, yet there is little doubt of its be- 
ing a powerful engine of harbour defence. The enlargement, 
and completion of the fortifications of the principal ports, 
and supplying them and the arsenals with the munitions of war, 
constitute another important result. These eflfects'of the war 
more completely secure American rights from future violation, 
than the strongest treaty stipulations without them. European 
nations now see that America has both the spirit and the 
means of defence, and her government the abihty to call 
them into action. The United States have now nothing to 



4,12 HISTORY OF THE LATE WAR. Chap. 22. 

fear from invasion ; possessed within themselves of every ma- 
terial requisite for a navy to any desirable extent, and a supe- 
rior body of seamen, they are abundantly able to defen(^ 
their rights on the ocean. Though they may probably never 
find it necessary to create a navy of equal niagnitude with the 
British, which can only be useful for the purposes of conquest, 
they will always have it in their power to call into operation 
one sufficient for all the purposes of ^defence. Possessed of 
fifty ships of war, by a gradual accumulation of the imperish- 
able materials, a navy can at any time be produced, which 
will cause their rights to be respected. British maritime 
rights, which in modern language have been construed to 
mean the right of controlling the navigation of the world, must 
now be confined within their legitimate bounds. America is 
in a situation never again to submit to have her tr^de de- 
stroyed, or her coasts ravaged with impunity. 

The severe chastisement which the Indians of the west, and 
south, who were indiiced to join the British standard, have 
suffered, has rendered the frontier secure from future ravages. 
The eftects of the war will extend much beyond the tribes 
who have suffered ; there is now very little danger of any 
Indian nation ever so remote, who has heard of the names 
and deeds of Jackson and Harrison, being seduced into hos- 
tilities against the United States, either by their own religious 
fanatics or foreign influence. Peace with them may be con- 
sidered as more firmly established, and the frontiers more se- 
cure than at any fornier period. These are some of the ben- 
eficial results of the war ; in them^every American has a deep 
interest. They ha •. happily served to wear off the asperi- 
ties, and reconcile the conflicting interests and opinions, which 
attended its commencement and progress. Party spirit is 
fast subsiding, and though at times it is attempted to be resus- 
citated, yet it must soon resolve itself into a united effort, to 
promote the happiness of a great and growing nation. 

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